What is Clean Eating? 10 Easy Clean Eating Recipes You Should Try

Clean eating is about focusing on whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods while cutting back on refined sugar, artificial additives, and heavily processed foods. In this article, you’ll learn what clean eating looks like in practice and get 10 easy, flavourful recipes from Gousto that align with the clean-eating philosophy.

You’ll also find practical tips for making clean eating a sustainable habit, and answers to frequently asked questions so you can cook with confidence and eat with joy.

What is Clean Eating?

Clean eating isn’t about restriction or perfection. It’s a flexible framework to help you make better food choices more often. The basics of clean eating include:

• Prioritising whole, unrefined foods
• Avoiding overly processed items, long additive lists, refined sugars, and artificial preservatives
• Using simple cooking methods such as roasting, steaming, and sautéing, with minimal oil
• Aiming for balance, variety, and colour on your plate

Over time, these habits help you eat more for nourishment and less for empty calories. With Gousto, you will find a variety of recipes that are delicious and low-calorie to help you hit your health goals.

How Gousto Supports Clean Eating

Gousto’s ‘Healthy Choices’ collection features meals that lean into fresh, balanced ingredients and cooking methods that preserve flavour and nutrients.

Thanks to our handy pre-measured, fresh ingredients and easy recipe cards, many of the barriers to clean eating, such as meal planning, overbuying, and too much prep, are removed. This makes it easier to stick with clean eating even on busier nights. Plus, our menu rotates weekly, giving you fresh, varied options that keep boredom at bay.

Browse 10 Clean Eating Recipes

Clean eating doesn’t mean giving up on flavour or variety. These ten recipes are packed with fresh ingredients, balanced nutrition, and plenty of inspiration for your weekly menu.

1. Beetroot Hummus & Roast Veg Buddha Bowl

This vibrant Buddha bowl layers roasted vegetables, bulgur wheat, crispy chickpeas and a generous swirl of beetroot hummus. It’s colourful, wholesome, and designed to be as nourishing as it looks.

– Why it’s clean: Whole grain bulgur, legumes and fresh vegetables mean minimal processed ingredients.

– Ease factor: Mostly roasting and assembly. Simple and low-stress.

2. Chickpea & Aubergine Curry with Tomato Rice

A hearty curry that combines roasted aubergine with chickpeas simmered in a spiced tomato base, then served with fragrant tomato rice and cooling coconut yoghurt. A perfect balance of richness and freshness.

– Why it’s clean: Whole vegetables, legumes, and simple spices. No heavy cream or additives.

– Ease factor: Roast, simmer, and serve. A straightforward curry method.

3. Moroccan-Style Lean Meatballs & Bulgur Wheat Grain Bowl

Lean, spiced meatballs are served with fluffy bulgur wheat, roasted veg and a dollop of yoghurt for freshness. A balanced grain bowl that delivers flavour without heaviness.

– Why it’s clean: Uses lean protein, whole grain bulgur, and fresh salad components.

– Ease factor: Cook meatballs, boil bulgur, assemble. Efficient and balanced.

 4. Beef & Mushroom Bolognese with Wholewheat Tortiglioni

A classic Italian favourite, reimagined with added mushrooms for extra veg and served over wholewheat pasta. It’s hearty, filling, and a little lighter than traditional Bolognese.

– Why it’s clean: Adds veg to the sauce and uses wholewheat pasta for extra fibre.

– Ease factor: Pasta and sauce, familiar and easy to follow.

5. Sweet Potato Dal

A warming bowl of dal made with red lentils and chunks of roasted sweet potato, gently spiced for depth and comfort. It’s hearty, wholesome, and one of the easiest ways to pack more plant protein into your day.

– Why it’s clean: Lentils, root vegetables and natural spices. Hearty but not processed.

– Ease factor: Gentle simmer and roasting. Perfect for beginners.

6. Chickpea, Spinach & Coconut Curry with Brown Rice

A quick, creamy curry packed with chickpeas, leafy spinach and coconut milk, served over wholesome brown rice. Comforting yet light, it’s a great midweek option that feels nourishing but fuss-free.

– Why it’s clean: Focuses on legumes, greens, and coconut milk with whole grain brown rice.

– Ease factor: Designed as a “10-minute recipe” thanks to pre-steamed rice.

7. Creamy Spinach & Tomato Chicken with Crispy Sweet Potatoes

Chicken breast is pan-fried and simmered in a creamy tomato and spinach sauce, paired with golden roasted sweet potatoes. It’s a wholesome twist on comfort food that still feels indulgent.

– Why it’s clean: Lean chicken breast, nutrient-rich spinach and sweet potatoes.

– Ease factor: Roast and stovetop sauce. A straightforward, comforting meal.

8. Thai Green Chicken Curry with Brown Rice

This fragrant Thai curry brings together chicken breast, courgette, green beans and coconut milk, all served over nutty brown rice. It’s aromatic, filling and lighter than takeaway versions.

– Why it’s clean: Uses lean protein, coconut milk and vegetables with whole grain rice.

– Ease factor: One-pot curry method. Moderate steps, but manageable.

9. Crispy Pesto Fish with Cannellini Beans

A crispy, herb-crusted fish fillet served over a warm stew of cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil.

– Why it’s clean: Uses lean fish and whole legumes, along with fresh tomatoes and herbs for minimal processed ingredients.

– Ease factor: Bakes the fish and quickly stews the beans. Manageable steps for midweek cooking.

10. Nutty Three Veg Curry with Basmati Rice

Fresh courgette, pepper and carrot are cooked with peanuts and spices in this simple but flavourful curry, served alongside basmati rice. It’s a veggie-packed dish with a nutty twist.

– Why it’s clean: Vegetables and natural nut butter provide flavour and nutrients.

– Ease factor: One-pot simmer, easy steps, and family-friendly.

Tips for Eating Clean, Every Day

Eating clean isn’t about strict rules. It’s about small, everyday habits that add up. Try these practical tips to make clean eating part of your routine.

– Batch cook and prep: Roast veggies, cook grains in bulk, and chop salad bases in advance.

– Swap refined for whole versions: Choose brown rice, oats, and whole-wheat pasta instead of white.

– Use real flavour boosters: Fresh herbs, spices, citrus juice, garlic, shallots, and more add intense flavour instead of using sugar-filled sauces.

– Let vegetables take centre stage: They should fill at least half your plate.

– Choose good fats: Olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado in moderation.

– Read ingredient labels: Avoid products with lengthy additive lists, hidden sugars, or artificial preservatives.

– Be flexible and forgiving: Clean eating is about progress, not perfection. It’s okay to enjoy less ‘clean’ meals sometimes.

FAQs About Clean Eating Meal Ideas

Still have questions about what clean eating really looks like? You’re not alone. We’ve provided some quick answers to common questions to help you feel confident in making simple, healthy choices.

How do beginners eat clean?

Start by replacing one processed staple at a time, for example, swap sugary cereal for oats and fruit. Build with simple meals you enjoy. There’s no need to overhaul your pantry all at once. Gradual, consistent changes will stick better.

What foods are good for clean eating?

There are countless ingredient options to include in your clean eating meal plan. Vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, lean proteins (plant or animal), nuts, seeds, avocado, olive oil, herbs and spices, water, or simple unsweetened beverages are just a few to start with.

Are Gousto meals healthy?

Many Gousto dishes fall under the “Healthy Choices” or “Plant-Based” categories, which prioritise fresh ingredients, balanced meals, and lower processing.

What ingredients should I avoid when eating clean?

The most common ingredients to avoid when eating clean include refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, artificial additives, ultra-processed sauces, long ingredient lists with chemicals, excessive sodium, and artificial sweeteners.

Ready to Cook Clean with Gousto?

You now have a definition, a purpose, and 10 clean-style Gousto recipes to get you cooking with fresh, wholesome ingredients. Gousto’s pre-portioned delivery and chef-nutritionist–designed recipes help remove friction so clean eating becomes easier, not harder.

Explore Gousto’s clean, lean, and healthy recipes now and let your kitchen become your clean-eating playground. Or, check out this week’s menu to get everything you need to eat clean delivered to your door.