[Amblus]

Clean eating is an arbitrary and very poorly defined phrase. I don't like it.

Yes, sticking to whole and minimally processed food sources is for the best. You provide a lot of useful micronutrients that way which can be beneficial.

But "clean eating" is not going to affect your physiology in any meaningful way, assuming the macros are accounted for. It's hardly essential.

I get what you're saying but I think getting rid of some of the processed food she's eating and replacing it with real food will definitely help in that her food will be more satisfying. I mean, come on, would you rather have a fat-free hot dog with some fat free cheese or a nice piece of grilled chicken with some mashed sweet potatoes? Which is going to be more beneficial in the long run and is tastier right this second?

I think people who are used to eating processed foods and minimal vegetables should at least try real food and see if they can't change their palate a bit. I think that's really meaningful and certainly more important than just calorie count.

I can relate to the vegetables! A few years ago, I found myself in a position where I needed to eat more vegetables, and I didn't like any of them! But if you make an effort to cook at least one new vegetable dish a week, you will gradually find tons of vegetables that you like! I find that they're my favorite food now, and I have a nice collection of recipes.

Absolutely! I think a lot of folks who think they don't like vegetables actually don't like poorly prepared vegetables. marv, experiment a little! Try steaming some fresh veggies and add a little lemon juice or hell, go for a little butter or olive oil. You need some good fat in your diet, for sure. (And there isn't any fat in raisins! They're just sad grapes.)