The term “clean eating” has become ubiquitous, promising a path to weight loss, improved health, and endless energy. Defined by Healthline as a focus on minimally processed foods in their natural state, this trend encourages home cooking to minimize that “processing.” Often, this is illustrated with picturesque images of someone joyfully slicing fresh berries in a charming kitchen.
But let’s get real. “Clean eating” is more than just a diet—it’s a social media phenomenon steeped in classism and fat-shaming, reinforcing unhealthy ideals in the diet culture. Cooking Light emphasizes that clean eating requires fresh foods—except for the rare frozen green bean. It demands an aversion to anything packaged or processed, urging you to fill your plate with whole grains like freekeh or farro (and what even is freekeh?!). You can enjoy “pure” sugars like honey or maple syrup while aiming for 5-6 meals a day.
Herein lies the first problem: the assumption that everyone has access to fresh food. What if you live in a food desert, where the nearest grocery store is a tiny corner shop lacking in produce? The few fresh items available may be exorbitantly priced. Clean eating operates on the premise that everyone can simply stroll down to the farmer’s market and stock up on organic vegetables. But what if you don’t own a car? Or if your budget doesn’t stretch to those local greens? In reality, many families find it more economical to purchase canned goods or boxed meals instead of fresh produce, which can be prohibitively expensive.
Clean eating also presupposes that you have adequate cooking facilities, tools, and culinary knowledge. It’s easy to assume everyone has a fully stocked kitchen, but not everyone does. I remember a time when my friend, Lisa, tried to bake cookies and realized she didn’t have a baking sheet. Imagine how that feels when you can’t afford to just run out and buy one. Many Americans lack the basic pots and pans needed for such recipes. My own mother had just one colander—plastic and bright yellow. We certainly didn’t have an array of storage containers for meal prepping, and we weren’t even struggling financially.
Let’s say you finally have the funds to buy those exotic ingredients like quinoa. You might even know how to prepare them, thanks to some intensive research or family traditions. Still, clean eating assumes you have the luxury of time to devote to cooking, something many parents simply can’t afford amidst the chaos of daily life. When you’re juggling homework, soccer practices, and a full-time job, who has the time to soak beans or meticulously chop strawberries?
If weight loss is your goal, it’s worth questioning the motivation behind it. Don’t fall into the trap of believing that shedding pounds equates to better health. Focus instead on what your body can achieve—if you can conquer a mountain hike, why fret over a few extra pounds?
Reject the notion that certain foods are “clean” or “dirty.” There are no inherently good or bad foods—there’s simply enough food or not enough. The clean eating trend is yet another manifestation of fat-shaming and classism wrapped in an Instagram-friendly package.
Don’t be fooled by it.
For more insights on diet trends and their impact, check out this enlightening post on home insemination and its effects on family planning. Additionally, if you’re looking for tools to assist in the journey of self-insemination, Make a Mom offers a comprehensive kit that may be beneficial. For a thorough guide to pregnancy week by week, March of Dimes provides excellent resources.
Summary:
The popularity of “clean eating” is a trend that perpetuates classism and fat-shaming, promoting unrealistic expectations around food access, preparation, and cooking skills. It assumes everyone can afford fresh, organic produce and have the time to prepare elaborate meals, which is far from the reality for many. It’s crucial to shift the focus from weight loss to body functionality and reject the harmful categorization of foods.
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