Clean eating history. The beginnings of the clean eating movement were born within the natural healthy food movement of the 1960s. At that time, many cultural revolutions were taking place, and food was no exception. Healthy, natural food became synonymous with the morals and values of this time. The health food movement never went away, but became popular in the gyms where health-conscious body builders and exercise fans took up the mantle. Registered dietician, author and clean eating expert Diane Welland has popularized the clean way of eating in her many works, including “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Clean.” Clean eating is not one person’s realm, however; Tosca Reno has popularized the “Eat Clean Diet” with her series of books on the topic.