The Ultimate Clean Grocery Shopping List

Eating clean can sometimes be a chore as it is confusing. When you are only used to the endless, processed foods at the supermarket, sometimes you must question, so what is "clean" anyway?

First of all, clean eating is not a diet-it's a lifestyle. You are either in it to change your ways or you shouldn't do it at all. I believe everyone has their own personal idea of what's considered "clean eating," especially since there is NO clear definition of what "clean" is. However, I would have to imagine that everyone would agree to some extent that the general definition would be: the elimination of processed, extra additives, chemicals, and refined foods in one's daily diet. Instead, you are choosing to eat foods in their simplest or "whole" state.

Some benefits to eating a clean diet are:

-Fat loss
-Increased energy and stamina
-Decreased health problems
-Better sleep
-Improved mental well-being
-Improved skin
-The list goes on..

The easiest way to start eating clean is to prepare your own meals at home. Yes, this means you have to start learning how to cook! This way, you know exactly what ingredients you are eating and the amount of calories you are consuming.

Confused about what to buy?

According to Jamie Eason and Bodybuilding.com, here is a list of approved clean foods!

Oils

• sunflower oil
• coconut oil
• walnut oil
•  avocado oil
•  olive oil
•  grapeseed oil
•  pumpkin seed oil

Fatty Proteins

• avocado
• coconut
• walnut
• cashews
• almonds
• nut meal/flour
• seeds
• all natural peanut butter
• salmon
• sea bass
• mackerel Limit, high in mercury
• bluefish
• trout
• mussels
• bluefin tuna

Lean Proteins

• soul
• flounder
• cod
• halibut
• mahi mahi
• red snapper
• orange ruffy Limit, high in mercury
• ahi tuna Limit, high in mercury
• swordfish Limit, high in mercury
• tilapia
• grouper
• corvina
• cobia
• egg whites
• chicken breast
• extra lean ground turkey
• london broil
• top round
• turkey
• pork chops
• game meat
• bison
• tofu
• tempeh
• shellfish
• scallops

Flours

• spelt flour
• wheat flour
• oat flour
• chickpea flour
• rice flour
• quinoa flour

Sweeteners

• sugar free maple syrup use sparingly
• coconut sugar
• applesauce (no sugar added)
• birch sugar Ideal(xylitol)
• Stevia in the Raw or Truvia

Fruits

• honeydew
• cantaloupe
• wintermelon
• apple
• papaya
• pear
• raspberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• cherry
• mango
• guava
• orange
• passionfruit
• strawberry
• tangerine
• tomato
• grapefruit
• banana
• date
• fig
• persimmon

Vegetables

• broccoli
• cauliflower
• artichoke
• kale
• collard greens
• spinach
• arugula
• beet greens
• chard
• turnip greens
• endive
• lettuce
• mustard greens
• watercress
• garlic chives
• cabbage
• leek
• brussels sprouts
• capers
• asparagus
• bamboo shoots
• ginger
• celery
• rhubarb
• lemon grass
• potatoes
• jerusalem artichokes
• taro
• soybean
• mung beans
• alfalfa
• carrots
• parsnips
• beets
• radishes
• rutabagas
• turnips
• onions
• shallots
• garlic
• cucumbers
• squash
• zucchini
• pumpkins
• peppers
• eggplant
• tomatillos
• okra
• avocado

Dairy

• Unsweetened almond Milk
• Unsweetened rice milk
• Greek Yogurt
• Cottage Cheese

Legumes

• green beans
• lentils
• snow peas
• soybean