We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
WHAT IS EATING ‘clean’ exactly?
Clean eating is, at its most basic, all about staying away from junk and processed food. It’s eating the most natural, unprocessed, nutritious food that you can find.
Taking it a step further, as people are wont to do, it means really examining where your food comes from and doing your utmost to give yourself the best food possible.
So that’s organic, non-GMO, non-processed… the list goes on.
But it all sounds a little… healthy, doesn’t it? A little too healthy maybe?
Fear not, we’ve rounded up 6 delicious clean eating recipes that are so tasty you won’t even realise they’re good for you too – there are even chocolate treats in there.
You’re welcome.
We all know fish is brain food and should make an effort to eat more of it, so turning it into crispy, delicious, nutritious fish cakes just seems like a win-win to us. Have as a starter or with a salad as a main and feel brainier before you even finish.
Here’s an interesting take on a quick chicken dinner. Mediterranean flavours of feta, tomato and olive stuffed into the chicken and grilled (or you could roast it in the oven) and served with a green leaf salad means a tasty, healthy dinner in no time.
You may have thought all your usual delicious guilty-treat dinners were off the table on this new found healthy eating scheme we’re showing you. How wrong you are.
Here’s a creamy and delicious curry that’s miles better for you than a takeaway and can be made in less time than you’d be waiting for delivery.
This lovely salad will get your all your good fats (from the avocado) as well as a good hit of protein from the cashews to keep you fuller throughout the day. Lime juice as a dressing gives it a hint of citrus (and stops the avocado browning) but who’ll leave this salad around long enough to brown?
No one, that’s who.
Not only does this icecream only have three ingredients, and doesn’t need to be churned (or need special equipment) to be creamy and delicious, it’s actually good for you.
Coconut milk will provide plenty of healthy fats, and mango is full of vitamins A and C amongst other delicious goodness.
Oh yes, we’re not total killjoys here – you can have your treat and eat it, even on a clean-eating plan.
Here’s a recipe for a ‘clean’ Snickers and it’s good for you.
We defy you not to make it your new good-to indulgence.
Enjoy.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I don’t get the whole ‘clean eating’ phenomenon..It preaches to use unprocessed foods but the first recipe uses tuna in a can, cheese, garlic powder etc. ?
Maybe these are just poor examples of clean eating. I find it hard going myself as you need to be very organised and disciplined but I have seen the benefits to other people who have given it 110%.
So does clean eating turn you into an overbearing, pedantic pain in the arse then?
Unless you’re buying wild sustainably caught fish, then fish cakes aren’t really “clean eating”
Fish are riddled with mercury – Definitey not ‘clean’ in any way.
Very wide reaching and mis-informed comment.
This chart will help, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_in_fish
Recipes for same mite have been an idea!
All types of meat are highly processed. Not exactly in line with the definition given above of ‘clean eating’……
No they’re not
Oh yeah. Burgers, chicken wings and sausages grow on trees, then we pick them and eat them. Simple two step process really….. No cruelty involved.
@Aoife, stop buying everthing in supermarkets and pay afew extra for quality in a butchers.
“Burgers, chicken wings and sausages”… cheap, lazy and unhealthy food.
I don’t eat any animal products – they’re all unhealthy whether you pay €1 in McDonalds or however much a steak of dead animal costs in a top notch restaurant.
I don’t get my nutrients second hand.
Any cut of meat is still processed, not to metion full of antibiotics & disease causing hormones.
A chopped carrot is processed, Aoife =P
Carrots are living creatures too. They just don’t run as fast.
Aoife,
Take the tinfoil off your head, stick it on a pan, throw a chicken fillet on it, stick it in the over for 45 mins to an hour.
Delish.
@ Aoife maybe in the US where antibiotic residues are a problem and growth hormones are permitted, but you very obviously know very little about animal husbandry and fresh meat production in Ireland. If you are a vegetarian and have ethical concerns regarding meat consumption, fair enough, but for those of us who do eat meat, please stop scare-mongering. Meat bought in a local butchers is far more traceable and is from one source compared to the likes of Quorn and TVP.
That’s why I don’t cut my carrots, I deep throat them.
You’re not honestly comparing a chopped carrot with a tin of tuna, burger are you…?
Aoife are you twelve years old by any chance?????? Way to go with your balanced point of view….. The only thing you seem to want to put down people’s throats is your extreme point of view and prejudice!!!!!
I’m vegan for health & ethical reasons. Meat & dairy consumption is highly correlated with coutless diseases. Ireland is set to be the most obese country according to the WHO because of our bad diet.
Try a wholefood, plant based diet or dig your head a little deeper into the sand.
Aoife, your GP will see you shortly when you’re completely vitamin deficient and riddled with osteoporosis. Here’s to your first hip fracture!
Just because it works for you doesn’t mean everybody has their head in the sand! from a nutritional perspective it would be interesting to know where you get the rda for vit. d, vit b12, iron and calcium. also with regard to your sweeping statements re: meat consumption and disease, I would like to ask you what types of meat/milk, what diseases, what evidence, in what populations do you refer to?
My bloods are perfect, thanks. I get them checked bi-annually. Don’t ask me about my general health and I won’t ask you about your cholesterol.
People don’t like the truth. They like to hear good things about their bad habits…
Aoife, sorry everyone is entitled to opinion but do please read the latest publications from the School of Public Health in Harvard (people far more qualified than you or I).
Cholesterol? What is cholesterol Aoife? It’s essential for every animal to live and survive. I think you may be referring to dietary fat (particularly saturated fats) which have strong links to cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, etc. Harvard recommend liberal intake of fish, nuts, poultry and eggs because of their high protein, low saturated fat compositions. I will admit that red meat and processed meat is high in saturated fat and is as a result recommended in sparing amounts. (No red meat mentioned in the above article)
I’d challenge you to l create your food pyramid to see how many nutrients you’re actually taking in?
I commend anyone making a stand for ethical issues. However, as someone else suggested, by your meat from a butcher where you’re getting high-welfare produce from animals that are treated very well. Oh and maybe educate yourself on Irish laws governing food and additives such as antibiotics etc. You seem grossly misinformed!
Correlation doesn’t prove causation…
Aoife, what food goes well with that chip on your shoulder?
I’d rather have my head in the sand than have it up my hole.
” clean eating” this years ” super foods” marketing myth to get sheep to buy basic foods for increased prices.
have your say