3 Tips For Clean Eating During The Holidays

The holidays are right around the corner. Thanksgiving is fast approaching and before we know it we'll be eating Christmas cookies and other delectable dishes. During this time, temptations run high as we are surrounded by endless amounts of rich and hearty food. And everyone is guilty of a little overeating and indulging in holiday treats. 

To help you get through the holidays food festivities, we've interviewed chef Justin and chef Kim from Miraval Resort & Spa for tips on "clean eating." Located in Tucson, Arizona, the resort believes in being mindful of food and ingredients. Their new cookbook, Miraval's Sweet & Savory Cooking focuses on the "true feelings of hunger and letting it cue mindful eating as opposed to feeding one's emotions."

So what is clean eating? It's exactly what it sounds like. Chefs Justin and Kim tell us that "Clean eating is about consuming whole foods in their most natural state, or as close to this as possible." The benefits of clean eating are "removing excess fat, sugar, and salt. It makes us healthier and cuts unnecessary calories. "Everything is intended to be consumed in a natural, un-fussed with way."

To those who haven't tried clean eating, why should you start? Not only does clean eating have health benefits, but it also improves your sense of taste. Chef Justin and Chef Kim say, "eating cleanly allows ingredients to shine in their natural light and teaches us to enjoy the flavors and textures we've been masking for so long." 

Even chefs Justin and Kim admit that the holidays are challenging. However they say that it is "possible to maintain a clean diet throughout the season."

Here are 3 tips they recommend: 

Basics
Don't make things too complicated. Keep it simple with "minimal preparation, allowing it to shine without too many extras or unnecessary ingredients. " In the classic sweet potato casserole dish, the chefs advise to skip marshmallows and brown sugar. 

Eat Mindfully

Although they say allowing "yourself to indulge" is okay, always be cautious of what you are eating. Ask yourself "how you feel, what does your body want, and when has your appetite been satiated?" 

Clean Desserts
Instead of the traditional desserts with mounds of sugar, creams, and fat try new savory dishes. If you don't enjoy the savory flavor in desserts, you can continue to enjoy sweet desserts—just remember to keep the ingredients as original and simple as possible. Once you've added too many things and the dish becomes too complicated, you know you've gone too far.

But executive chef Justin Macy and pastry chef Kim Macy assure us that, "Clean eating is not a diet-it's a lifestyle." In order to lead a healthy life, clean eating is a practice that we must follow  daily, even after the holidays.