Kristen Fleming holds a Master of Science in Nutrition. Over her 8 years of experience in dietetics, she has made significant contributions in clinical, community, and editorial settings. With 2 years as a clinical dietitian in an inpatient setting, 2…
Sticking to a real food diet has numerous advantages. This diet minimizes ultra-processed foods and focuses on whole, minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods. It also emphasizes foods or ingredients with limited additives.
Of course, a real food diet is not just about nutrition.
This real food trend prioritizes simplicity while promoting good health.
Consuming foods and ingredients that are:
Nutrient-rich
Minimally processed
Tasty and easy to prepare
It makes a healthy lifestyle worth embracing.
The priority of a real food diet is not more on calories but on food choice.
It tries to limit or eliminate foods with added sugars, artificial additives, and unhealthy fats as much as possible.
Therefore, you should consider a real food diet regardless of your goals—whether you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What Is A Real Food Diet?
A real-food diet is a lifestyle where you consume minimally processed or whole foods with a good nutrient profile.
Real-food foods include foods closer to their natural state, such as:
Nuts and seeds
Lean proteins
Whole grains
Vegetables
Pulses
Fruits
In addition, the emphasis is on limiting ultra-processed foods, which contain excessive added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats.
You should also consider how you prepare your meals.
This diet prioritizes methods that retain the nutrient profile, such as:
Steaming
Roasting
Grilling
In a nutshell, a real food diet will comprise the following:
Natural Foods are minimally processed foods close to their natural state, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins.
Limited Additives involve foods with few to no additives, preservatives, flavors, and artificial sweeteners.
Whole foods may be frozen, canned, or dried to extend shelf life, but avoid products with excessive added sugars, sodium, or unhealthy fats.
Specific examples of real foods include:
Fish
Nuts
Apple
Beans
Quinoa
Berries
Lentils
Chicken
Almonds
Broccoli
Spinach
Oatmeal
Chickpeas
Brown rice
Plain yogurt
Sweet apples
Whole-wheat bread
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What Is A Real Food Healthy Diet?
A real food healthy diet consists of natural foods and avoids ultra-processed foods or foods with highly altered natural qualities.
Depending on availability and affordability, you can include fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
You can also use canned fruits and vegetables; just look for varieties with less added sugar or salt and rinse them before use.
Lean Proteins
Include: Fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, tofu, and beans.
Limit higher-fat proteins such as cheese and red meat.
Meats and fish can be fresh or frozen, beans and lentils can be dried or canned, and nuts can be whole or in nut butter with no or limited additives.
Whole Grains
Include: Brown rice, barley, oats, and quinoa, etc.
Include these products when they are whole-grain: Bread, cereal, and pasta.
Healthy Fats
Include: Avocados, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, plant and seed oils.
A real food healthy diet also limits processed meats like bacon and refined grains like white rice and white bread.
Therefore, if you are on a real food healthy diet, you should stick to foods closer to their natural state other than highly processed ones and also choose the healthy options as mentioned.
A real food diet is a straightforward plan that is easy to understand.
It is one of the most straightforward plans to implement since it is only based on the choice of foods.
Of course, the preparation method is also essential, and you may want to use cooking methods that can preserve the most nutrients.
When it comes to the choice of foods, the goal here is to give your body the nutrients it deserves for healthy functioning while eliminating the ultra-processed options.
What Foods To Eat Vs What To Avoid:
What To Eat
The plan focuses on foods that are whole and natural.
These include but are not limited to the following:
Whole Grains: Brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole-grain bread are some foods you should choose over refined ones.
Fruits and Vegetables: Dried, fresh, or frozen fruits and vegetables are healthy choices. Consider a variety to get a substantial amount of minerals and vitamins.
Healthy Fats: Examples of healthy fats include avocados, olive oil, fatty fish, and canola oil.
Lean proteins: Include a variety of lean protein sources, such as fish, poultry, beans, lentils, tofu, and more.
Dairy: Dairy is optional. You can include milk, plain yogurt, and cheese if you want.
There are several foods to avoid when on a real food diet. These include but are not limited to the following:
Refined Sugars: You should probably limit refined sugars like white sugar. Try natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, but use them in moderation. Any form of sugar you add is “added sugar.”
Ultra Processed Foods: Minimize ready-to-eat foods like chips and other packaged snacks.
Artificial Sweeteners and Additives: Avoid artificial sweeteners and additives like preservatives, food color, and artificial flavors.
Refined Grains: The emphasis is on consuming primarily whole grains. Limit white pasta, white bread, and other highly refined grains.
Partially Hydrogenated Oils: If they aren’t banned where you live, you should also avoid partially hydrogenated oils (aka trans fats) in some fried or processed foods and margarine.
Can You Lose Weight Eating Real Food?
Yes, eating real food can help you lose weight.
Foods like beans, peas, lentils, lean meat, and others have a filling effect that can help you limit your calories. Fruits and vegetables are also filling and low in calories.
Understand that real foods are more nutritious.
That means you get all the nutrients that your body wants.
These real foods are also low in calories compared to most processed foods. In addition to that, real foods are more filling and healthier.
Several studies have confirmed that ultra-processed foods are usually higher in calories due to their ingredients.
These foods are likely to contribute to weight gain compared to minimally processed real food diets (1).
Therefore, to lose weight, you should stick to minimally processed real foods, such as fruits and vegetables, peas, beans, fish and other seafood, lean meat, poultry, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, among other whole food choices.
How To Start Eating Real Food Step By Step?
There is no universal formula for starting to eat real food.
If you have decided to start a real-food diet, knowing how to maintain it is crucial.
Even before you start eating real foods, you need to understand that it comes with a lot of nutritional and health benefits that include but are not limited to the following:
Nutritional Value: Real foods contain various essential nutrients for the body.
Here is an example of a real food diet week plan that you can implement at home:
Day 1
Breakfast – Fresh berries with Greek yogurt and some drizzles of honey.
Lunch – Grilled chicken salad with vegetables, olive oil dressing, and avocado.
Snack – Nuts, almonds, and fruit, like an apple
Dinner – Roasted sweet potatoes with baked salmon and steamed vegetables, like broccoli
Day 2
Breakfast – Overnight oats with banana slices, almond milk, and chia seeds
Lunch – Whole grain bread with lentil soup
Snack – Hummus and carrot sticks
Dinner – Brown rice and steamed vegetables with stir-fried tofu
Day 3
Breakfast – Whole-grain bread toast, sauteed spinach, and scrambled eggs
Lunch – Chickpeas with quinoa salad and cucumbers
Snack – Walnuts and fruit like a pear
Dinner – Green beans with mashed cauliflower and grilled chicken.
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Day 4
Breakfast – Smoothie with berries and spinach
Lunch – Avocado wrap with greens and roasted turkey
Snack – Almond butter with celery sticks
Dinner – Stir-fry lean beef with brown rice and bell peppers
Day 5
Breakfast – Avocado slices and hard-boiled eggs with whole wheat toast.
Lunch – Whole-grain bread and chickpea soup
Snack – Granola with plain yogurt
Dinner – Quinoa and roasted vegetables with grilled shrimp
Day 6
Breakfast – Avocado with poached eggs and whole grain toast
Lunch – Lettuce wraps and tuna salad
Snack – Nuts and seeds with orange juice
Dinner – Sweet potato fries with spinach and roasted chicken
Day 7
Breakfast – Apple slices and almond butter with oats
Lunch – Hummus wrap and roasted vegetables
Snack – Guacamole and cucumber slices
Dinner – Quinoa pilaf with baked cod and Brussels sprouts
You can implement this simple real food diet example, but you may want to try out any version with available ingredients.
Get your personal plan according to your age and BMI
So, when it comes to choosing the healthiest foods, consider the following:
Nutritional Value: Minimally processed foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Choose lean proteins and healthy fats and oils.
Minimally Processed Options: These include foods closer to their natural state.
Preservation methods such as freezing, canning, or drying typically don’t significantly reduce nutritional quality.
Avoid products with excessive added sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats.
Added Sugars: Ultra-processed foods and sugary beverages may contain added sugars that we can limit. A lot of added sugar can indicate that the food is highly processed.
Sodium Content – Ensure your foods do not have excessive sodium.
Diets high in sodium can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and other detriments (3).
A high sodium content indicates the food is highly processed and unsuitable for a real diet.
Trans Fats – Avoid foods high in trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils.
These fats are unhealthy and unnecessary, so avoid them.
Studies have confirmed that trans fats are the worst of all fats, as they increase the risk of heart disease(2). Many countries have banned trans fats, but depending on where you live, you may need to avoid them.
The healthy foods to eat every day offer excellent nutritional and health benefits to the body.
As mentioned, minimally processed foods are typically low in or free of certain additives and considered healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is classified as real food?
Real food is minimally processed and close to its natural state. It includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, lean meat, healthy fats, fish, and legumes. These foods are nutrient-rich, healthy, and good for weight loss for healthy meals for weight loss on a budget.
Is yogurt considered real food?
Yes, yogurt is considered a real food. Plain yogurt is rich in nutrients and low in sugar. Greek yogurt, in particular, is rich in protein, which promotes satiety. Hence, it is a good option if you are on a weight loss journey.
Is pasta a real food?
Yes, pasta can be real, especially whole wheat, grains, or legume pasta.
However, refined white pasta may not be suitable for a real-food diet.
Whole-grain and legume-based pasta are higher in fiber and protein, making them more filling and nutrient-rich than white pasta.
Is rice clean eating?
Yes, rice can be a part of clean eating, especially whole-grain options like brown or wild rice.
Clean eating for beginners and dieticians means eating whole foods that are not refined or contain excessive added sugars, colors, preservatives, or flavors.
The Bottom Line
By now, you should understand what a real food diet is. As discussed, it primarily consists of whole foods and limits highly processed foods.
People typically adhere to a real food diet to lose weight or maintain good health.
While everyone wants to be healthy, eliminating some processed foods can be challenging. Therefore, it’s best to transition gradually and find suitable alternatives for your favorite processed foods.
For instance, you could switch from regular pasta or bread to whole-wheat options or replace potato chips with roasted nuts as a snack.
It can be helpful to create a real food diet food list of your preferred, available, and affordable foods, such as whole grains, lean meat, fruits, and vegetables.
A list will help you make your real food diet recipes while sticking to real food diet meal plan.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not serve to address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on for making any kind of decision-making. Any action taken as a direct or indirect result of the information in this article is entirely at your own risk and is your sole responsibility.
BetterMe, its content staff, and its medical advisors accept no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, misstatements, inconsistencies, or omissions and specifically disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal, professional or otherwise, which may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and/or application of any content.
You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or your specific situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of BetterMe content. If you suspect or think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor.
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