Why more UAE residents are taking up clean eating

"I eat almost everything raw"
- Jennifer chalouhi
Clean eating can be relative - some choose to moderate how much processed food they have while others may choose to cut it out of their system entirely. One example of the latter is Jennifer Chalouhi, a Dubai-based personal trainer and - although it's hard to believe - mum of three.
The Lebanese-American chose to take up healthy eating roughly seven years ago because, in her own words, most junk food left her feeling lethargic, bloated and cranky. Today, she enjoys most of her food completely unprocessed, doesn't eat anything fried and limits her carb intake to oatmeal, quinoa and brown pasta - that too before 5pm.
"To me, clean eating is anything that is fresh and brightly coloured like spinach, kale and apples," she explains. "But it's also about enjoying unprocessed foods - those which come straight from the ground and not from a supermarket shelf. I eat almost everything raw except for my protein (like eggs and salmon) and I'm trying to minimise my chicken and meat intake because that takes so much longer to digest."
Clearly, Jennifer's dedication is the stuff of dreams. Is it difficult to keep up a diet like that in a city like Dubai? "Of course," says Jennifer. "Dubai is so fantastic at marketing things that you might go out for a salad and get something totally different on the way. But, in the end, it all it boils down to will power."
Today, even meals with the kids are healthy - although not as healthy as the ones she has. "They're kids after all," she laughs. "If I make them eat kale and spinach all the time, they'll hate me. On weekdays, I cook brown pasta or chicken with brown rice and broccoli, so they are getting all the nutrients. On weekends, they can indulge in some ice cream."
"I didn't always look the way I do right now"
- Aisha Almulla
As the Head of Programs at The Big Heart Foundation, Emirati Aisha AlMulla has a big - and busy - job. So busy that she often had lunch right in the office, where, in her own words, it was easier to fill up on junk food. Realising that her eating habits were affecting her energy levels and even her mood, she finally decided to take up clean eating this year - one step at a time.
"I don't really know how to cook and that made it harder, so what I decided to do was register with a company that sent healthy pre-prepared meals to the workplace," she explains. "I started eating clean from Sunday to Thursday. That way I had another reason to wait for the weekend - those were my treat days."
After 30 days of eating clean, it slowly turned into a habit. Today, even when she is out socialising with friends, ordering a healthier option comes naturally to her. Although it's only been a few months, Aisha says she can already feel the benefits. She feels more energetic, and has even heard positive comments about even her hair and skin.
"I didn't always look the way I do right now," she candidly confesses. "I could have been considered obese in the past. I was about 78 kilos and losing weight wasn't easy so I went to extreme diets that were not considered healthy at all and made me lose weight till I was only 49 kilos."
After taking up clean eating, her weight stabilised, and Aisha could not be happier. Today, Aisha stays away from sugary drinks and greasy, salty foods, and credits her overall improvement to the right balance of clean eating and exercise. "I feel good - really good. I was always happy with work, but felt like something was missing. But this (clean eating) makes me happy."
"Everything should be in moderation"
- Jay Christie
Jay Christie can't quite remember when he started eating clean, but he does know he did it to improve his workout performance. The fitness trainer - who came to Dubai from the UK 18 months ago - noticed that eating a complex carbohydrate gave him more energy over a period of time than the bad kind of carbohydrate - and thus decided to make the switch.
"Clean eating, to me, is all about the consumption of the right foods to stay in good shape," explains Jay. "So I try not to cut anything out - it's more about having everything in moderation. I know most people think they have to cut all the carbs and fats out of their diet, but that isn't a good idea. It's all about having the right source of carbs and fats. Natural fats, for instance, are an essential part of your diet. So, the first step would be to understand the difference between a healthy option and an unhealthy option."
The next step, he says, is to set small goals. "Most people struggle because they make drastic changes to their diet. Instead, start with something small - adding fruits to your breakfast granola, for example."
As a trainer, Jay understands the importance of clean eating, but emphasises that nothing can truly happen without the right exercise regimen. Which is why he advises his clients to have balanced meals and healthy substitutions - and follow this with an exercise routine.
"There's no point having a car with a great engine unless you also have oil. The two come together," he says "You need to have the right food to nourish your body."
janice@khaleejtimes.com