Q&A: Do You Have to Give Up Meat if You Want to Eat Clean?

Q&A: Do You Have to Give Up Meat if You Want to Eat Clean?

Where beef and chicken fit in when it comes to this food philosophy

The question: "I want to start eating clean, but I'm not sure I can give up burgers and chicken. Do I have to?"

The expert: Janet Brill, Ph.D., R.D., a Philadelphia-area nutritionist and author of Blood Pressure Down

The answer: For such a trendy and healthy way to eat, "clean eating" is pretty vague. And because it's a food philosophy that's been embraced by vegetarians and vegans, many meat eaters aren't sure if animal products fit in. The good news: There's no reason meat and poultry can't be part of a clean-eating regimen, says Brill.

Clean eating revolves around two principles: The first is about consuming food that's healthier for your body—in other words, unprocessed (or very minimally processed) whole foods that look and taste the way they do in their natural state and haven't been altered or preserved chemically, says Brill. "Clean eating also focuses on food that's healthy for the planet, meaning it's grown in a sustainable way without pesticides, antibiotics, or hormones." Ideally, a food should also have been grown or produced locally so energy isn't wasted to truck or fly it to your part of the country (and also so preservatives aren't needed to give it an unnaturally long shelf life).

MORE: 5 Traits the Best Diets for Weight Loss Have in Common 

To make sure the meat you eat is clean, go with leaner cuts of red meat, like sirloin or lean ground beef, and leaner poultry options like chicken (over something like duck). These aren't overloaded with saturated fat and are generally healthier for you. For beef and poultry, look for labels that specify "grass-fed" and indicate that the animal was raised without hormones or antibiotics, says Brill. "Shop at a farmer's market so you know the meat is local, or ask your butcher where the beef or chicken comes from if the location isn't labeled." When you're eating out, ask your restaurant server, as well.

Finally, check out the label. "I suggest not buying any product that even has an ingredient list," says Brill. "The animal itself should be the only ingredient."

MORE: 9 Signs You're Obsessed with Clean Eating 

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