2. Is clean eating a diet?
Clean eating isn't necessarily about weight loss, though that can be one of its effects. "Back in 2000, I lost my father due to a heart attack. It really shocked me and made me think about healthy food choices," Hildmann said. He gave up processed and fast food — and, eventually, meat — in favor of meals rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, and lost over 70 pounds.
"Now it's something I embrace because I love to do it," he said. "If you force yourself into healthy habits, it's not healthy anymore. Eat some cake, eat a steak if you compare that to how you feel when eating a healthier diet, you might stick to (the latter)."
"Meat that is not grass-fed and pasture raised, more likely than not, has been raised in filthy surroundings. Buying regionally from a farmer's market, or from local butchers that's much cleaner to me," Shey said.