If you want to convert to clean eating, but the thought of going cold turkey feels a bit overwhelming, here’s a little something to help you convert one small baby step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be eating 100% clean!
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(.pdf)
Von says
October 6, 2013 at 10:07 amI’m ready for change
The Gracious Pantry says
October 6, 2013 at 6:39 pmVon – That’s the best place to start! 🙂
becky says
October 30, 2013 at 12:33 pmAfter 2 surgeries this year & still having problems, I need a change, my energy level has hit bottom.
The Gracious Pantry says
October 30, 2013 at 4:37 pmBecky – I’m so sorry to hear that. What do you think you need to change first? The most? Where will you start?
Amanda says
October 31, 2013 at 2:56 pmThanks for all these great tips, recipes and support!
The Gracious Pantry says
October 31, 2013 at 4:24 pmAmanda – My pleasure! 🙂
Vanessa says
December 4, 2013 at 7:23 pmAlright, I just read this over with my husband. We are going to go with option…….3 🙂 LOL We’re both fed up with feeling the way we do. Wish us luck and thank you for providing the information!
The Gracious Pantry says
December 4, 2013 at 7:38 pmVanessa – My pleasure! And please remember, the BEST way to stay on track is to focus on the next MEAL if you fall off the wagon. Not the next day or week. You won’t be perfect at it. None of us are. Life happens. Shoot for 100% perfection, 80-90% of the time and you’ll be doing pretty darn good. Guilt can be your biggest enemy, so don’t let it get you. You’ll make lots of mistakes in the beginning and that’s okay. We all do. I’ve been doing this for 4 years and I still mess up all the time. It’s not about perfection, it’s about what you do the majority of the time. You’ll do great!
BRITTANY says
December 19, 2013 at 7:34 amI NEED A CHANGE SO BAD!!! I’M 24 YEARS OLD WITH NO KIDS AND I’M OVER WEIGHT. I WANT TO GET HEALTHY NOW SO WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDE TO HAVE KIDS I’LL BE USED TO THE WHOLE CLEAN EATING LIFESTYLE. I NEED HELP!!! PLEASE!
The Gracious Pantry says
December 19, 2013 at 11:28 pmBrittany – It starts with the little decisions. The devil really is in the details. Start to educate yourself about different ingredients. Learn how to read labels (I have an article on my blog here for that). Then start slow. Switch out 1 or 2 ingredients as you run out each week for something that is clean. It’s much easier to do this in small steps than to jump in 100%. But most important, don’t beat yourself up for mistakes. I’ve been doing this for 4 years and I still make mistakes. It’s part of the lifestyle. You chalk it up to experience and you move on to your next clean meal. Take it one meal at a time and one ingredient at a time. You’ll get there.
Diana Almazan says
March 12, 2014 at 7:05 amI’m in desperate need of motivation and a healthy way of eating. I would like to maintain it that way as well but it’s very difficult. I currently have diabetes and high blood pressure and have a small amount of time to cook b/c I work full time and of course a full time mom/wife as well. This I find interesting but something has to give
The Gracious Pantry says
March 12, 2014 at 9:09 amDiana – Absolutely. Something has to give. Especially when your health is involved! Since diabetes seems to be in my immanent future as well, I find it helpful to think of how much my son needs me. How sick I could become if I don’t take care of myself and how I would end up leaving him far too soon if I don’t watch my health carefully. I know that negative motivation, but it works better for me than pep talks and positive motivation. I think you just have to find the type of motivation that really works for you. But motivation aside, just start with one thing every day. One thing you know you can do. And then build from there. It’s the baby steps that get us there as long as you continue to take them and add more. Change is never easy or simple. It takes effort. But it’s worth it to be there for your kids and be a healthy mama.
Lilian says
April 8, 2014 at 4:34 pmBefore i found your website, i definitely started out with ‘The Slow & Methodical Method’ haha. I’m a 23 yr old graduate that’s currently living with my parents & younger brother (due to saving up to get my own place). Anywho, my family are very unhealthy eaters in general. Lots of junk & fastfoods. I was so tired of eating crap, feeling like crap, & needed to lose a couple of lbs anyway. One day i just decided to do more research about ingredients in junk/fastfoods in general and was VERY shocked & disgusted.
There’s so many barely unpronouncable preservatives & artificial sugars/colors in junk and fastfoods, that I still honestly don’t understand how my family & millions of others out there actually KNOW & are okay with continuing to consume poison on a daily basis. Since 99% of the food in my parents house is unhealthy, it took tiny baby steps to slowly elminating junk. The first month was VERY tough. The 2nd month i started including more fruits/veggies/nuts/grains. By the end of the 3rd month, i eventually went out and bought my own mini fridge w/a freezer (as a treat to myself & to stay on track). Now 4 months later, i eat 99% clean. I will indulge occasionally (about once a month or so). Now when/if i do ever occasionally eat junk/fastfood, my tastebuds & body can INSTANTLY tell a MAJOR difference. It’s either too sweet, too salty, or blegh! My body even rejects some of the junk/fast foods that i use to crave and love! haha.
Eating clean has also introduced me & my tastebuds to trying new spices, natural sweeteners, & textures of different foods. Shopping at my local farmers market has also helped & saved me more money. I make, prep, & stock majority of my food now that way i KNOW what’s in it. It helps me stay on track, it tastes 100x better, AND i’m keeping more money in my pocket! Not to mention that my skin has a more youthful glow now! 😀 .
Many people TRY to eat healthier or try to take the easy way out to “diet” on so-called “healthy” artificially processed low-cal protein shakes, bars, etc. They either give up or lose the weight & end up going right back to eating the crap they used to eat. That’s why so many end up failing. For anyone that’s reading this & wants to eat clean(er), i can personally say for myself that you HAVE to WANT, as well as, MENTALLY prepare yourself for this. This IS a lifestyle change. A cleaner healthier lifestyle change. It’s tough at first, but in the end you will end up feeling SO much healthier & good about yourself!
Oh btw Tiffany, i made some homemade Coconut Palm Sugar Syrup last week & it’s absolutely DELICIOUS! Sometimes i even add in a pinch of spirulina powder to it for extra benefits/nutrients. I know longer use maple syrup on my homemade waffles & pancakes anymore! ^_^
The Gracious Pantry says
April 8, 2014 at 5:53 pmLilian – Sounds like you’re definitely on the right track! Keep up the fabulous work! 😀
jj says
March 28, 2015 at 12:05 pmthe document seems to be missing. I get a 404-page.
could you check?
The Gracious Pantry says
March 29, 2015 at 10:14 amJJ – I have somebody looking into it now. I hope to have it back up soon.
Jessica says
July 15, 2015 at 6:28 pmI too seem to be getting a 404 error.. I was really hoping to read the document!
The Gracious Pantry says
July 16, 2015 at 7:08 pmJessica – Sorry about that! I just fixed the link. You should be able to download it now.
Manu says
August 29, 2015 at 11:20 pmHi!
The Link isn’t working!
The Gracious Pantry says
September 27, 2015 at 9:10 amManu – All fixed. 🙂
evina says
January 18, 2016 at 4:27 pmhai. clean eating is a bit difficult for me eventhough i really want to try it. here is my problem. I live in Indonesia. Bali to be exact. in the small city. in the shopping list on ur blog, i could probably find only 3 or 4 ingredients. and to make it even bigger problem, i never cook my whole life. any wise words you could lend me to get me on this clean eating? maybe you could make an Indonesian friendly dish so that the ingredients is more easy to find? thanks
The Gracious Pantry says
January 18, 2016 at 5:20 pmEvina – Hello from California! To be honest, I would have no way of knowing what foods you have available to you there. I could certainly try to make something Indonesian, but I would have to make it with the ingredients I have here. So there’s still a chance you would have a hard time with it. However, you should always focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. Lean meats are good and make sure any grains you eat are whole grains. I would look around and see if you can find any old cookbooks. Typically, the older they are, the more likely they are to use clean ingredients. I hope that helps.