Welcome to part 2 of my interview with Tosca Reno of The Eat Clean Diet. Hope you enjoyed the wonderful tips she shared with us yesterday. I know I did! Here are the last 5 questions of the interview. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.
6) What are the best types of food to eat before a workout? after a workout?
Before a workout you want to eat for energy and after a workout you want to eat for repair. Your pre-workout meal should be heavier in carbs while your post-workout meal should be heavier in protein, although you should eat protein and carbs at each meal. Before your workout, try a banana with a glass of milk or an apple with a handful of raw, unsalted nuts. After your workout, try a protein shake with berries or an egg white omelet with chopped peppers.
7) It seems that clean eating could get expensive using items mentioned in your Eat Clean Diet Recharged book such as tahini, almond butter, chia seeds and coconut butter. What are your thoughts?
You don’t have to eat or purchase these foods or expensive foods in order to Eat Clean. Your health won’t suffer, so long as you continue to eat protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal. I list these foods in my books because it’s good to have options – but rest assured that natural peanut butter is just as good as almond butter and flaxseeds are just as good as chia seeds (and way cheaper!). It’s about preference.
It’s actually easy to Eat Clean on a budget. You can buy inexpensive whole grains such as oatmeal, couscous, flours, etc. at the bulk food store. You can use quinoa (also cheaply bought in bulk) and canned beans for quick and cheap protein sources. Buy lean meats in bulk packages. Split them into individual portions and freeze them until you are ready to use them. Purchase fruits and vegetables that are in season – not only will your diet become more varied, but they’ll taste better and you’ll save money. You can also buy fruits in season and freeze them to use in winter. Frozen raspberries are a great treat any time of year.
Over time, you’ll probably find that Eating Clean is cheaper than eating your old foods, because you aren’t paying for packaging. Consider your entire food budget, including any food item your family buys from corner stores or take-out places. Now buy bulk whole grains, lean meats, eggs and other real-food items and you’ll find it much, much cheaper. And don’t forget drinks! Water is practically free, whereas juices and soda pop and such are very pricey. Think of it this way: Clean Eating is how everyone ate until packaged food became the norm in the 1950s.
8 ) To follow the eat clean diet will I have to eat separate from my family?
Certainly not. The Eat-Clean Diet is a lifestyle, not a diet. You don’t feel deprived and you don’t eliminate food groups or eat unappetizing foods. Eating Clean is eating the way nature intended, by eating whole, unprocessed foods. Your family can still enjoy spaghetti and meatballs, steak and potatoes, soups and stews, even pizza – you just need to use real, unprocessed ingredients to make these meals Clean.
9) How does one stick with the eat clean diet when there are snack foods around for the kids because you don’t want to deprive the kids while you’re on a diet right?
Why keep that garbage in the house at all? In my house we have healthy snacks: yogurt and granola, trail mix, popcorn, homemade muffins and bars, nuts, fruits and vegetables. I’m not trying to say that kids (or you) shouldn’t be allowed a candy bar or a treat every once in a while, but not all of the time. If these foods tempt you, you shouldn’t have them in the house.
In addition, ask yourself why you are feeding your children processed junk when you wouldn’t put it inside your own body? Don’t you want your children to grow up without weight issues and without the threat of diabetes, heart disease and obesity? Now is the time to get your kids eating healthy foods right along with you. You have the opportunity to teach them how to eat now and for life.
10) How do you not sabotage yourself when craving something you know you really shouldn’t have?
Plan ahead. I enjoy a glass of wine or a small piece of good-quality dark chocolate from time to time, but I plan for it and I make sure to watch my portion size. If you do slip up, don’t let that one little slip up turn into an all-day or all-week binge. Nobody’s perfect and everyone makes mistakes. You just have to dust yourself off and keep on going. Drink some water and make your next meal a Clean one.
What a great interview I had with Tosca! Tosca, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer some of my questions. I really love all of your books and have had the chance to read a few Oxygen magazines and I really enjoy them.
I really feel eating clean can make a big difference in my life so I am going to try my hardest to resist processed foods and eat more whole healthy foods. Now I need to think of an eat clean challenge for myself. Does anyone have any ideas?
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my review page of The Eat Clean diet books. If you have any questions let me know.
*These are my personal reviews on the Eat Clean Diet collection of books. I purchased the original Eat Clean Diet book but the remainder have been sent to me for review.
Danielle says
Really great interview Angie! Thanks for asking some of my questions!
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..The Other Best Thing About NAMS3: Brainstorming Group =-.
Angie says
Thank you, Danielle! I appreciate you sending in questions.
Shannon - The Shrinking Mommy says
These last 5 questions were perfect for my situation. Thanks so much for asking them! As someone with kids and a very tight grocery budget, I’ve been struggling changing from how my family has been eating (and the type of groceries I buy) to an even more healthy/clean eating plan. It’s hard to change the habits, but so totally worth it!
.-= Shannon – The Shrinking Mommy´s last blog ..Healthy Food Choices: Napa Valley Salad with Cranberries and Almonds =-.
Angie says
Shannon,
I’m so glad you found these questions and answers to be helpful to your situation.