Clean eating: fresh, wholesome and sustainable

23.01.2024 - The way we eat is subject to constant trends. In today's world, where environmental awareness and health are playing an increasingly important role, the clean eating trend is becoming more and more important. The focus here is on the use of fresh, wholesome and sustainably produced food. We provide an insight into the world of clean eating, from the sustainable concept to special recipe blogs.

Clean eating as a sustainable lifestyle goes beyond purely personal health and actively contributes to environmental protection. By making a conscious decision to avoid processed foods and their often expensive packaging, followers of this trend not only reduce their own ecological footprint, but also support the conservation of natural resources.

This is how sustainable clean eating works

A central aspect of clean eating is the emphasis on regional and local products. Favouring food from the local area not only promotes short transport routes, but also strengthens local agriculture. This helps to minimise_{CO2 emissions} caused by transporting food and at the same time supports the diversity of regional produce.

Avoiding ready-made products and focussing on unprocessed food also means acting in an environmentally conscious manner. This is because the production of processed food often requires a lot of energy and pollutes the environment through packaging materials and production waste. Clean eating therefore promotes sustainable food production that conserves resources and produces less waste.

Another important environmental aspect of clean eating is the reduction of plastic packaging. The overuse of plastic has a significant impact on the environment, especially on the flora and fauna in the oceans. By opting for unpackaged, fresh food and consciously avoiding plastic-packaged options, clean eaters are making an important contribution.

Clean eating thus becomes a holistic approach to wellbeing that protects both your body and the planet.

Clean eating vs. vegetarian/vegan

In contrast to a purely vegetarian or vegan diet, clean eating allows the consumption of meat and fish. However, the degree of processing and the freshness of the food are decisive. Clean eating can easily be combined with a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, which explains its flexibility and broad acceptance. Clean eating is basically a wholefood diet. However, the focus on environmental aspects, particularly in relation to packaging, broadens the scope and makes clean eating a holistic nutritional concept with a high level of sustainability.

Basic rules of clean eating

Clean eating has a few basic rules that define the lifestyle:

• Natural foods: buying unprocessed produce where possible.
• Avoid packaging: No products in plastic or elaborate wrapping.
• Avoid white flour, sugar and sweeteners: Reduce trans fats, colourings and artificial additives.
• Sustainable meat and fish production: If meat or fish, then low-fat and sustainably produced.
• Inclusion of superfoods: chia seeds, goji berries, tempeh, soya, quinoa and local superfoods.
• Several small meals: Favouring small meals over a few large ones.
• Plenty of water: Daily consumption of two to three litres of water, accompanied by a strong restriction of alcohol consumption.

Quick effects and long-term changes

The effects of clean eating can be seen relatively quickly, often within just a few days or weeks. Changes in hunger, weight, sleep requirements and skin appearance are typical examples. To achieve long-term effects, constant implementation of the clean eating lifestyle is required.