clean eatingThe big debate over diet is between individuals who choose “clean eating” over If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM).  People who believe in “clean eating” believe that eating only foods thought to be inherently good will result in being ultimately healthier.  Some foods that fall into the “clean eating” category are chicken, broccoli, and fish.  “Clean eaters” avoid things like ice cream, cake, pop tarts, bread, or anything one might consider junk food, snack foods, or sweets.

People who follow IIFYM believe that accounting for the macros (fat, carbs, protein) in your diet will allow you to reach your fitness goals.

Let’s get a few things straight before we move on.  “Clean foods” do not exist.  It is a made up term that means something different to everyone.  There is no true definition to the term.  A better term to use would be nutrient dense foods.  These would be foods that have nutritional value in both macro and micro nutrients (minerals, vitamins, fiber).

Another way “clean eating” fails is that it doesn’t consider a person’s individualized goals.  For example, if someone is trying to gain weight and put on muscle, they see what you did theremay choose to eat a steak.  Many might not consider this food to be “clean” but it is nutrient dense and supports this particular person in achieving their goal.  Feed that steak to someone who is trying to lose weight and it then becomes a terrible food choice because it now doesn’t support that person’s goal of weight loss.

Likewise, if someone is an athlete or bodybuilder and has a very high carbohydrate diet they  will not be able to consume strictly fibrous carbohydrates.  They must consume some simple carbohydrates because the body cannot handle that type of fiber intake.  I speak on this from experience.  It just is not possible.  So eating white rice and bread will be a good choice for this person, yet those foods would not be considered “clean.”

Everything is relative.  It all depends on the individual and their goals.

IFFYM isn’t free from criticism either.   Many people who follow this eating theory skew the definition so they can eat a bunch of crap.  If you are hitting your macros but are eating low quality foods with terrible micro nutrient values you will fail miserably.

Let’s throw both, IFFYM and “Clean Eating” out of the window.

I want to propose a new, better mindset to diet and eating.  It is called Goal Selective Eating. 

Goal Selective Eating focuses on goals, not food.  The goal is always the variable.  The goal changes what foods are appropriate choices.  The problem with IFFYM and “clean eating” is that these theories focus on the food and not the person.  This poses a huge problem because the food choice will change based on the goal.  This is why Goal Selective Eating is a more effective way to analyze your food choices.

When choosing a food item following Goal Selective Eating….

Ask yourself: “Does this food support me in my goals?”

If the answer is “Yes.” That food is for you. This is super simple and effective stuff here.

When it comes to eating foods outside of your Goal Selective Foods, just perform a risk vs reward analysis.

Ask yourself: “Will I be able to make up for these calories through my diet or workout regimen?”

If the answer is “Yes,” and if eating that food will help you keep your mental sanity, then eat it.  Again, this is all very simple stuff.  Don’t over think it.

The next part is analyzing how your body digests certain foods. If a particular food messes with your stomach, causes diarrhea, makes you feel bloated, or just makes you feel like crap you shouldn’t consume that food.   Some people do not digest certain foods well and this is individually based.  You will have to make that assessment on your own.  You will learn this through your experiences.    Avoiding foods that cause these types of reactions would be in your best interest.

Lastly, make most of your foods natural, whole foods.  This will help account for your micro nutrient intake and help you avoid empty calories.

You are probably asking yourself, “Can I eat any processed foods?”  Yes you can, as long as it passes the question protocol above and doesn’t screw up your digestive system.  Again, very simple yet effective.

Goal Selective Eating can be applied to any type of goal or regimen.  It is much more adaptable than both IFFYM and “clean eating” because it focuses on the individual and their goals rather than the food.

Making it about YOU will help you achieve!

If you have any questions on this idea, feel free to ask by commenting below.