Blake Lively’s Diet for The Shallows Was Actually Totally Doable

What is clean eating?

Clean eating is an approach to eating that focuses on consuming whole, minimally processed foods, while avoiding foods that have been highly processed, refined, or contain artificial ingredients.

What foods are considered clean eating?

Organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats are all foods that are considered clean eating.

Save This Clean Eating Grocery List For Your Next Trip

Fruits + Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables play a big role in clean eating. In order to abide by the clean eating guidelines, shop for fruits and veggies that are organic and GMO-free.

• Spinach
• Kale
• Broccoli
• Bell peppers
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Berries
• Apples
• Bananas
• Avocados
• Garlic
• Onion
• Lemons

Whole Grains

Whole grains are an absolute powerhouse element to include in your clean eating regimen and meals. They provide important vitamins and minerals, and plenty of fiber that keeps you feeling regular.

• Quinoa
• Brown rice
• Whole grain pasta
• Whole wheat bread
• Whole wheat wraps
• Oats

Protein

Protein (whether animal- or plant-based) keeps you fuller for longer, sustains your energy throughout the day, and can help you build muscle. These clean eating protein sources will bulk up your meals perfectly, no matter how you use them. Again, keep an eye out for organic labels when grocery shopping.

• Chicken breast
• Grass-fed beef
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Black beans

Dairy + Dairy Alternatives

These dairy and dairy alternative essentials can be enjoyed easily on their own or incorporated into your fave clean eating recipes for a healthy bite.

• Greek yogurt (plain, unsweetened)
• Almond milk or other plant-based milk (unsweetened)
• Organic or grass-fed butter

Oils + Condiments

Keeping these oils and condiments on-hand allows for a seamless cooking process when making clean eating meals. You don't have to limit your next grocery trip to just these items, either – feel free to branch out with whatever wholesome ingredients your go-to recipes call for.

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Dijon mustard (no sugar)

Herbs + Spices

Spice things up with these must-have herbs and spices! Again, you're not limited to using only this short list for your dishes. Look for items that have been minimally processed!

• Basil
• Cilantro
• Garlic
• Turmeric
• Cinnamon
• Black pepper
• Sea salt

Parfait Popsicles

Popsicles are one of the best desserts you can enjoy on a hot summer's day, and with these low sugar desserts, you could be in for a treat every day if you wanted to! Crafted with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, and granola, these frozen bars are easily made possible with some simple molds and popsicle sticks. They're naturally sweetened with honey, which makes 'em a delightfully light low sugar dessert! (via Brit + Co)

Blueberry Parfait Milkshake

Dessert for breakfast? Love it. Breakfast for dessert? Even better. This thick milkshake assumes the flavors of a classic blueberry parfait, but retains a more dessert-like sweetness for when the cravings really strike. Using frozen Greek yogurt for the base ensures a rich texture (and lots of protein) for sipping down as slow or as fast as you want! (via Brit + Co)

Baked Apples with Crumb Topping

Low sugar desserts have nothing on baked apples. They're just like apple pie, but healthier! Each tender bite of this recipe is doused in natural sweetness from maple syrup that mixes in with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla for a full flavor effect. You'll love this option even more alongside a scoop of sugar-free ice cream! (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Chocolate Olive Oil Sponge Cake

The creators of this recipe attest that the cake is "unbelievably light, perfectly moist, and decadently rich." If that's not enough detail to convince you to make it, the fact that it's also vegan, grain-free, and sugar-free will definitely help you decide. Once it's done, top it with fruit and flowers for crowd-pleasing curb appeal. (via No Eggs or Ham)

Raspberry Brie Dessert Pizza

Dessert pizza makes our hearts *so* happy! The crust of this dish is sweetened lightly with honey, while almost all of the toppings remain untouched by refined sugar. To make this dessert even lower in sugar, omit the candied pecans that get sprinkled on top. Low sugar desserts are truly what you make them, so each inclusion or exclusion should be based on what works best for you and your health! (via Completely Delicious)

Roasted Peaches with Vegan Ice Cream + Granola

Roasted peaches (or honestly, even grilled peaches) are like baked apples – when cooked, the fruit becomes more juicy and tender than it already was, unlocking unforgettable flavor after unforgettable flavor. What makes this healthy dessert even more enjoyable is the fact that it's low in sugar! Make sure to serve each half with some naturally-sweetened granola for some good crunch. (via Gastroplant)

Healthy Apple Cake

This healthy cake is a little bit different as far as low sugar desserts go. It swaps xylitol for granulated sugar, a naturally-derived sweetener that has fewer calories and doesn't spike your blood sugar as significantly as traditional granulated sugar. With notes of apples and cinnamon, you just have to make this easy cake. (via Where Is My Spoon?)

Rainbow Fruit Pizza

You can literally taste the rainbow when you prep this dessert pizza! To make it lower in sugar, opt for a lower sugar cookie dough (we like Sweet Loren's) and sub the powdered sugar in the cream cheese frosting for maple syrup or stevia. From there, go crazy with the colorful fruit, and dig in! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Tahini Date Shakes

Dates are a great healthy option for sweetening your low sugar desserts, and this homemade shake features them in the tastiest way. When paired with tahini, dates offer a satisfyingly sweet balance to the salty, nutty spread. These drinks also include a splash of strong coffee, making them great for a midday pick-me-up! (via The First Mess)

Banana Cream Pie Dessert Nachos

These lower-in-sugar dessert nachos give actual banana cream pie a run for its money! You'll start by making the cinnamon chips (so worth it, plus they taste like Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists), then drenching them in a rich pudding and dark chocolate drizzle. Each bite is crunchy yet smooth, plus there's chocolate involved, so how could you not love it?! (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Slow Cooker Coconut Milk Rice Pudding

This low sugar dessert is concocted in the slow cooker, giving it all that sweet time to slowly simmer in a mix of coconut milk, turmeric (which has great anti-inflammatory properties), cinnamon, and vanilla. The recipe includes granulated sugar, but you could easily swap it for a squirt of honey, which not only provides a healthier option, but gives each bite a boost in flavor! (via A Virtual Vegan)

Freedom Cookies

Low sugar desserts that double as low-carb desserts can be very tasty. Case in point: freedom cookies! These healthy baked bites are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, sugar-free, and low-carb. There's no tricks here – only treats! These low sugar desserts taste just like OG sugar cookies without spiking your blood sugar. (via A Spicy Perspective)

Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)

These chewy rice balls are about to become your new dessert obsession. They're sweet, but not too sweet, so you can truly savor every bite! Inside a glutinous outer layer of rice dough, you'll find a nutty black sesame filling that brings the ultimate comfort. These bites are traditionally served in a warm gingery broth, which you can optionally sweeten with maple syrup or honey for a healthier effect. (via Takes Two Eggs)

Healthy Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Oh my gosh. We are salivating over these low sugar desserts! Instead of being packed with sugar-laden marshmallows, these bites are actually bound using a medley of sunflower butter, honey, and dark chocolate chips – all making for immaculate flavor! Opt for a healthy cereal of any kind to solidify these sweet treats. (via Munching with Mariyah)

Easy Homemade Frozen Yogurt

If you're resisting the urge to get fro yo based on your low sugar diet, resist no more. You don't even have to leave the house for this recipe! This frozen yogurt is make with an easy, painless mix of bananas, berries, Greek yogurt, and honey that form a refreshing bite every single time. Rainbow sprinkles are optional, but we're totally here for adding them in excess. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Single-Serving Blueberry Crisp

Let's hear some noise for easy low sugar desserts! This one only requires 8 ingredients (and none of them are sugar)! The crumble topping and blueberry filling part of this recipe are both sweetened up with a dash of maple syrup, which also speaks to the fruity, cinnamon-y notes included in each spoonful. This recipe is exceptionally awesome since it yields a single-serving for the times you're just wanting a little something. (via Earthly Provisions)

Cottage Cheese with Fruit

Cottage cheese has earned its title as a classic when it comes to high-protein desserts and low sugar desserts, but it doesn't taste super great on its own. Try doctoring it up with any fresh fruit you have on-hand and a squeeze of honey, and you'll fall in love! (via The Fast Recipe)

1. We thought our first love was perfect and would argue with anyone who wanted us to take things slow with them.

I'll never forget the first time I fell in love at 19. I thought my ex was the "wind beneath my wings" because he had a great sense of humor and was creative like me. I told myself he was the person I was going to marry so I was offended when my parents didn't think he was mature enough to be in a serious relationship. If this sounds familiar, pull up a chair because Menon explains why we tend to idealize our first love.

"Your first love is your first experience with romantic love too, hence you typically see it with rose-colored glasses. The overwhelming emotion is often infatuation, which tends to overshadow the more critical and analytical part of our brain," she says. Sadly, this sounds like something my parents told me before but I couldn't fathom how true it was as a teen.

As the Clinical Director at Southern California Sunrise Recovery Center, Cavins has seen this play out before too. He says, "In your first relationship, there is a tendency to put your partner on a pedestal. The excitement of new love can create a powerful emotional fog that makes it hard to see flaws clearly."

Essentially, this "excitement of having a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner supersedes" our ability to questions things we normally wouldn't put up with, according to Menon.

2. We tried to ignore the how many times our first loves disagreed with our values or goals.

While some couples are able to make their relationship work despite having a different outlook on life, sometimes it can be a sign that things aren't going to work long-term. Cavins says, "One major red flag is disregarding differences in values or goals for the future. For instance, you wish to become a parent someday while your spouse swears this will never happen— or vice versa. Early on, you might dismiss these differences, believing love will conquer all. However, these mismatched priorities can lead to resentment and challenges over time."

Honestly, I probably should've ran whenever my ex would mock my belief in God only for us to have to attend his mother and stepfather's church whenever I visited. There was so much confusion there, but I tried to dismiss it as something he needed time to work out.

Menon adds, "If this relationship makes you feel like you'e standing in quick sand - where you are trying to move forward but often feel held back in your individual aspirations, it may not be the right fit for you."

3. We thought it was 'cute' when our first loves made suggestions about which friends to avoid or what clothes to wear.

Cavins says, "Excessively possessive behaviors are another red flag that people often ignore easily when they fall in love for the first time. People tend to justify such behaviors by citing that it's due to love or protective instincts." I'm all for being in a relationship where your partner's able to see different sides of a picture, but controlling behavior shouldn't come with that. What might that look like?

Cavins says, "Your partner may frequently check in on you, offer opinions on who you should spend time with, or subtly pressure you into making choices that suit them." For example, your partner could start off making suggestions about your style that slowly morph into them controlling everything you wear. Somehow I went from being a self-professed 'girly-girl' to trying to emulate the style of 'sneakerheads' in a short amount of time. Though I love wearing everything from New Balance to Niké sneakers now, it's in a way that feels cohesive with my style.

You may have brushed this kind of behavior off because, again, you thought it meant your first love wanted the best for you. "It is understandable that such behavior hypothetically may come off as pleasant or affirming; however, they often signal an unhealthy dynamic of control rather than mutual respect," says

4. We always gave in when our first loves forced us to be affectionate.

*Sigh* I'm shaking my head for my younger self because there were many times I didn't advocate for myself in my first romantic relationship. I'd often give in to affectionate or intimate moments despite wanting personal space so I wouldn't be seen as 'boring' or uninterested in my ex. Menon says, "Given the infatuation, your first relationship can feel all-consuming and often is codependent. Hence, this may result in you overlooking that your partner does not respect your boundaries or desire for personal space."

Partly because the excitement of the relationship makes you want to spend all of your time together, until you don't. And then, it is often too late to correct a maladaptive historical pattern.

4. We always made excuses for why our partners would shower us with affection only to ignore us days later.

Let's be clear, 'love bombing' feels confusing and awful. No one should make you feel like you're the center of their universe only to ignore your calls or texts days later. But, this probably happened while you were with your first love. Cavins says, "There's a tendency for people to brush off their first love's emotional unavailability. When, for example, a partner is not responsive and not engaging in intimate discussions or does not express their feelings, some may rationalize this as them being 'just not ready.'" If that were the case, this person wouldn't have made you feel like being with you is something they truly wanted.

Of that, Cavins believes "it's important to recognize these behaviors early" because "they can result in a one-side emotional investment that leaves one party feeling unfulfilled in the long run." Sadly, my first love would have days where he was super sweet to me only to feel like I was smothering him with attention. This is also the same person who begged me to remain in our romantic relationship when he went to basic training although I felt it would be better if we chose to be friends. Imagine my surprise (and hurt) when he told me we should have an open relationship months after getting stationed for the first time.

I should've known better because he was never 100% on board with the idea of marriage until after he graduated from basic training. Cavins calls this "emotional disconnectedness." His further explanation is this is "when the initial chemistry between the partners subsides that emotional attachment matters." To avoid this, he feels "identifying and addressing any of these is critical in a case where you are looking to create a strong and healthy bond."

5. We ignored the ways our former partner blamed us whenever they got in trouble with their parents or an authority figure.

Did your first love have a hard time taking responsibility for things that went wrong by gaslighting you to absorb the blow of their mistakes? If you've furiously nodding, we should start a support group. Cavins says, "A key sign is a lack of personal or relational growth. Healthy relationships encourage mutual development, but if one partner stays stuck in old patterns while the other grows, it can create frustration and distance."

At no point should you be the reason why your first love got in trouble after answering their parents' house phone late at night after telling you to call at a certain time. It's situations like this that should've alerted us to awful behavior, but I can see how easy it is to dismiss things.

What if I'm in love for the first time and recognize these signs?

First, my heart goes out to you for being in a relationship that doesn't feel healthy. It hurts when we realize the person we thought was so great is anything but. The road to letting go of idealization may be long, but you can and will get better. Cavins says, "In the process of self-healing and recovery, the first step that must be taken is self-reflection. Ask yourself all of the necessary questions that arise, such as what this relationship means for you, what your boundaries are, and what this partnership has revealed about you as an individual."

I keep saying this, but relying on journal prompts can help you unpack a lot of things and, thankfully, Cavins agrees. He says, "You could always opt to talk to a specialist or being journaling in order to find some closure and draw meaning from the experience." Also, he wants you to start "making new memories." But, don't be passive about it.

"You will have to engage yourself in activities that will help redirect the focus of your thoughts. This could include joining a new class, engaging in a hobby, or traveling that involves some independence. These experiences can help shift your mindset from loss to growth and reinforce your identity outside of the relationship," says Cavins.

Another important thing you can do is "solicit help from others," according to him. "Calling on people you trust, like friends and family, to talk about these feelings can significantly help in healing," he says. This also helped me navigate life outside of my first real romantic relationship, reminding me that I still had a lot of love in my life that didn't begin or end with my ex.

Here are Menon's tips:

• Let yourself grieve — Let this loss run its course. If you need to feel angry, sad, distraught, nostalgic. Allow yourself the full breadth of this experience. If I ask you right now "don't think a out a yellow monkey", I can bet you just thought of a yellow monkey. We call this "the imp of the mind". When you reject feelings, or thoughts, they come back 10 times more fiercely. To move the feeling along, we must let ourselves experience it.
• Rediscover your identity (So important) — Your first love is often intertwined with self-discovery, and identity formation. Reconsider your goals, interests, values, friendships and hobbies and try to build your own sense of identity and individuality.

I saw my first love again and it feels like we're falling in love all over. Can we have a happy and healthy relationship?

I'm not going to tell you to run even though I told my ex I never wanted to speak or talk to him again. You could easily reconnect with the first person you fell in love with and realize that you're both in a place where you can have something beautiful. However, Cavins and Menon want you to be mindful if you're in this position.

"Reconnection is possible," begins Menon, "if both parties can objectively claim that they have grown emotionally and resolved the issues that held their relationship back." But, "if the reconnection is built on one person growing and the other not, it is likely to fail," she alerts. You'll need to "proceed with caution," she says because "your first love was a nostalgic era in your life that can cloud your judgement." To put it more clearly, she doesn't want you confuse "the fuzzies" with a "true knowing that the two of you can make it work."

Cavins says, "Reconnecting with a first love can trigger a strong wave of emotions, but it is important that such a decision is made with caution and a strong sense of pragmatism. Personal growth is a primary factor. Each party in the relationship must ask themselves how they have grown and evolved as individuals over time. If past patterns of conflict, immaturity, or unhealthy dynamics remain unaddressed, the same issues could resurface."

He wants you to consider these things:

• Are there any active relationships or past engagements that would make it rather difficult? That's because the feelings that come with reigniting old flames are very strong and can alter a person’s life, making it essential to start thinking from all angles before going ahead with it.
• Address previous challenges that caused the breakup in the first place. If the reasons behind the breakup have been resolved or do not exist anymore, then yes, meeting again has its prospects. However, keep in mind that, at times, memories can be selective and unfavorably distort the truth by overplaying the good qualities while avoiding the negative ones.
• Only rekindle things if both individuals are in a healthy emotional state and the decision is grounded in practical, mutual considerations—not just sentimentality or romanticized memories. Clear and honest discussions and an understanding of purpose are vital in ascertaining if rekindling the relationship will be worthwhile for both parties or if it will simply be an act of revisiting unresolved emotions.