If you’re the type that is constantly striving to live a healthier lifestyle, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the whole eat clean movement that has really taken over the health and nutrition field. It’s not a diet, rather, it’s a way of life that focuses on making “clean” choices when it comes to your Food. At the very basics of clean eating is the goal to increase the amount of whole foods you consume such as lean proteins, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and fruits rather than counting calories. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to eat more clean. So far I’m happy with how much better my body feels!

If you’ve made the decision that this will be the year you take control of your food and start to eat clean, then here are some tips that will help you not just pick the best food choices, but also incorporate the whole healthier living aspect into your daily routine.

1. Be More Aware of What You Eat

The first step in clean eating is to become more aware of what you are eating, which is done by reading labels. Start to learn about what ingredients that you want to look for, and those you should avoid. Over time, this will become second nature and you’ll be much faster at spotting those “clean” items.

It may be a good idea to pick up a book on what clean eating is, do some research online regarding ingredients, and even grab a few clean eating recipe books to get you started and spark some ideas.

2. Don’t Fill Up on Processed Food

With clean eating, it’s all about eating whole foods in their natural form. What this means is that processed foods are the polar opposite of what you want to be putting in your body. Now because this isn’t a diet, there’s no need to cut it out completely, but you want to drastically limit the amount of processed food you are consuming.

Processed food often contains chemicals, high amounts of sugar, and the important nutrients like vitamins and fiber tend to get lost during the food’s processing. This means the food doesn’t have health benefits. If you do eat processed or packaged food, look for a brand that is organic or that contains whole foods and not full of ingredients like preservatives, sugar and salt. The fewer and healthier the ingredients the better.

3. Look Into Supplements to Fill the Gaps

Sometimes, even when you know how much of certain foods you need to consume, you may still find it hard to hit your quota. It may be that you just don’t have the time for meal preparation, or that you feel too full to get the recommended serving of things such as fruits and vegetables in. This is where supplements can really help to fill the gaps and ensure that you are still getting a balanced amount of nutrients.

One product that can certainly help to fill the gaps is the by Nutri-Dyn. Each serving of Fruits & Greens Pink Lemonade is able to provide you with 20 servings worth of vegetables and fruits. It is gluten-free and 100% natural, and full of fiber, probiotics, and antioxidants, all of which are vital to keeping your body healthy and strong.

4. Cut Back On Eating Out

While it may be nice to eat out and have someone else look after the cooking, the fact is that you lose all control over how your meal is prepared and what ingredients are used. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with eating out here and there, but you want to ensure that the majority of the meals you eat are ones that you have prepared yourself.

This is especially true with lunch when people tend to leave their workplace and go grab something fast. Make a point of packing your lunch as often as possible and take back the control.

5. Replace Your Beverages with Water

When transitioning to clean eating, the focus is on the food, and rightfully so, but one area you don’t want to forget about is what you are drinking. Things such as sugary fruit juices, coffee, soda, and alcohol won’t do you any favors where clean eating is concerned. Instead, make water the drink of choice, at least the majority of the time. Not only is it the cleanest beverage, but it’s also excellent for your body and you won’t have to worry about become dehydrated.

If you find it hard to drink enough water in a day, buy yourself a good quality re-usable water thermos/canister/bottle that is big enough to contain your full water intake for the day. This is an easy way to keep track of whether or not you’re drinking enough.

6. Clean Living Goes Hand in Hand with Clean Eating

As you embark on your quest to eat clean, don’t forget that clean living, in general, goes hand-in-hand with your food choices. This means making sure you include physical activity into your daily routine in order to get your heart beating, the blood flowing, and keep everything fit.