Designer Food: Eat Clean, Go Organic

"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." - Buddha

Happy New Year! I am going to be starting my 21-day Total Body Reboot on January 10, and I have been getting lots of questions about what exactly are clean foods. The short answer is that clean foods are organic foods (no pesticides or genetic modification) that are grown and not manipulated or processed. Clean food is in its most natural state. It is humanely raised meats that are pasture-raised and grass-fed without antibiotics. Clean foods are not manufactured in a lab, injected with preservatives, dyes, and chemicals, and stuffed into boxes and bags. They are clean, organic, natural fruits, vegetables, and grains that grow out of the ground.

I know, I know organic food can be expensive. It is definitely more expensive then conventionally grown foods that are riddled with chemicals. But the last time I checked, your food goes into your body. Like actually, inside of your body. And if you can't be picky about what goes into your body, what can you be picky about. Simply put, food ensures that our bodies stay alive and active. It builds new cells and tissues for growth and prevents and fight infections. The better the quality and variety of the clean foods you eat, the healthier your body will be. Period. So before you splurge on another pair of designer jeans, maybe, just maybe, you can go organic instead. Your body will thank you.

Now that you are convinced to eat organic, here is a list of all of the foods that you should eat. If it isn't on this list, you shouldn't be eating it. :-)

Lean proteins

Poultry (Opt for organic, free Range, Antibiotic Free)

Eggs
Extra lean ground turkey
Turkey
Chicken

Fish/Shellfish (Opt for Wild Caught)

Ahi tuna Limit, mercury
Cod
Corvina
Cobia
Flounder
Grouper
Halibut
Mahi mahi
Orange ruffy Limit, mercury
Red snapper
Soul
Swordfish Limit, mercury
Tilapia (Avoid if farmed raised)
Shellfish
Scallops

Read Meat (Eat Sparingly):

Bison
Game meat
London broil
Pork chops
Top round

Fatty proteins:

Almonds
Avocado
Bluefin tuna
Bluefish
Cashews
Coconut
Mackerel Limit, mercury
Mussels
Nut meal/flour
Peanut butter (All natural)
Salmon
Sea bass
Seeds
Trout
Walnut

Fruits

Melons

Honeydew
Cantaloupe
Watermelon

Sub acid (low cal):

Apple
Blackberry
Blueberry
Cherry
Guava
Mango
Papaya
Pear
Raspberry

Acid (high water content, low cal):

Grapefruit
Nectarine
Orange
Passionfruit
Persimmon
Strawberry
Tangerine
Tomato

High Cal Fruits

Apricots
Banana
Grapes
Date
Fig
Kiwi
Pineapple
Plum
Prunes
Raisins

Fruits used as vegetables:

Avocado
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Okra
Peppers
Pumpkins
Squash
Tomatillos
Tomatoes
Wintermelon
Zucchini

Vegetables

Flower bud:

Artichoke
Broccoli
Cauliflower

Seeds:

Beans

Leaves:

Arugula
Beet Greens
Cabbage
Chard
Collard Greens
Endive
Garlic Chives
Kale
Lettuce
Mustard Greens
Spinach
Turnip Greens
Watercress

Leaf sheaths:

Leek

Buds:

Brussels Sprouts
Capers

Stems:

Kohlrabi

Stems of leaves:

Celery
Lemon Grass
Rhubarb

Stem shoots:

Asparagus
Bamboo Shoots
Ginger

Tubers:

Jerusalem artichokes
Potatoes
Taro

Whole-plant sprouts:

Alfalfa
Mung Beans
Soybean

Roots:

Beets
Carrots
Parsnips
Radishes
Rutabagas
Turnips

Bulbs:

Onions
Shallots
Garlic

Legumes:

Green beans
Lentils
Snow peas
Soybean

Carbs/Starches

Whole Grains

Barley
Brown Rice
Cream Of Wheat/Rice Or Rye
Ezekial Bread (Food For Life)
Oats
Rice Cakes

Starches

Adzuki
Black Beans
Chickpea
Couscous
Farro
Kidney
Lentils
Mung
Navy
Pinto
Potato (White, Occasionally)
Quinoa
Sweet Potato
White Beans
Whole Wheat Pasta

Legumes:

Green beans
Lentils
Snow peas
Soybean

Other Foods

Oils (Use sparingly):

Coconut oil
Grapeseed oil
Olive oil
Pumpkin seed oil
Sunflower oil
Walnut oil
Avocado oil

Flours:

Chickpea flour
Oat flour
Quinoa flour
Rice flour
Spelt flour
Wheat flour

Superfoods

Cacao
Chia
Flax
Goji
Spirulina

Condiments

Apple Cider Vinegar
Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette
Broth Low sodium fat free beef, vegetable, and chicken
Champagne Vinegar
Chili Paste
Fat free cooking spray
Herb Pastes (ginger, garlic, cilantro, etc)
Hot sauce or Chalula
Ketchup (Wholefoods Organic)
Kim Chee
Mustard Yellow or dijon
Red Wine Vinegar
Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
Reduced Sodium Teriyaki sauce
Rice Vinegar
Salsa or Fresh Pico de gallo Tomatillo or Regular
Sauerkraut
Steak sauce (low sugar)
Tempeh
Tomato paste
Tomato sauce
White Vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce (no high fructose corn syrup)

Miscellaneous

Braggs Liquid Aminos
Coffee
Dry Herbs
Herbamere Seasoning Salt
Nutritional Yeast
Salt
Spices
Tea
Vanilla and Almond extract