Clean Eating Cooler Plan

I get so many people who want to eat clean but don't know where to start. How many servings a day! What is a complex carb, is Corn a vegetable? So hopefully this will clear the air just a bit! Tosca Reno the author of the Eat Clean Diet calls her meal plans, cooler plans! She has different cooler plans based on the type of results you want to get. So today I am focusing on Cooler plan #2, which is for steady weight loss and maintenance once you goal weight is reached. So this is basically the plan I stick to year round at this point! This will give you a good idea of what to eat and when!

What is it? This IS EATING CLEAN! Do this year round for steady, healthy weight loss. But this plan can also be used for maintenance. Here's why: when your body begins to approaching its set point (its genetically predetermined healthy weight) you will find that weight loss will stop or slow.

The occasional treat (glass of wine, piece of chocolate, ect) is permitted in limited amounts. Unhealthy sugars and fats are not recommended. How it works: Follow the eat clean principles as listed below What to do:

Eat more- eat six small meals each day.
Eat breakfast every day, within an hour of rising.
Eat a combination of lean protein and complex carbs at each meal
Eat sufficient (two to three servings) healthy fats every day.
Carry a cooler packed with clean foods each day.
Depend on fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber, vitamins, nutrients and enzymes.
Adhere to proper portion sizes.

What to Avoid:

Avoid all over-processed foods, particularly white flour and sugar.
Avoid all chemically charge foods.
Avoid foods containing preservatives.
Avoid artificial sugars.
Avoid artificial foods such as processed cheese slices.
Avoid saturated and trans fats.
Avoid sugar loaded beverages, including colas and juices.
Avoid or do your best to limit alcohol intake.
Avoid all calorie dense foods containing little or no nutritional value. I call these anti-foods.
Avoid super sizing your meals.

Complex Carbohydrates from Fruit and Vegetables:

6 portions each day. A portion is:

1 cupped handful or a piece of fruit such as berries, grapefruit, melon, apples and mangoes.

2 cupped handfuls of vegetables including broth based/vegetable puree soups.

Complex Carbohydrates from whole grains and starchy carbohydrates: 2-4 portions each day. A portion is: 1 scant handful of high-protein, sugar-free cold cereals, such as clean muesli or granola. 1 handful of cooked cereal 1 piece of whole grain bread or wrap (Sante Fe tortilla wraps from Costco are a great option) 1 handful sized serving of sweet potato, yam, banana, corn, carrots or squash Lean Protein 6 portions each day. A portion is:

1 cup or handful of dairy products such as low fat soy, almond, hemp, rice, or skim milk, cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt cheese or plain fat free sugar free yogurt.
1 scant handful of raw, unsalted nuts (also a healthy fat)
2 tablespoons of all natural nut butters such as almond or peanut butter (also a healthy fat).
1 palm sized portion of lean meats
good quality, sugar- and chemical- free protein powder (hemp, soy or whey).

Beverages: