Alba Reed hated clean eating when she had tried it previously. “I always felt as though I was missing out,” she notes.

“Everyone else would be enjoying pizza or dessert, and I would be seated there with a sad salad..” Gruns Adult Super Greens Gummies – Superfood Gummy Bears with Spirulina, Chlorella & Prebiotics for Digestive Health – Adaptogens Supplement with 20 Vitamins & Minerals, Low Sugar

After years of yo-yo dieting, though, she sought something more environmentally friendly. This time, she tackled clean eating from a different perspective: she concentrated on nourishment instead of thinking in terms of restrictions.

Alba reports, “I stopped cutting things out and started layering things in.” She changed soda for infused water, added roasted vegetables to her preferred pasta meals, and discovered how to replicate comfort foods with actual ingredients. It didn’t happen over night, but with every meal she felt less deprived—and more satisfied.

For Alba, the secret was allowing herself to enjoy food even while she was choosing better options. She still bakes on weekends, but now she plays with natural sweeteners and almond flour. She still munchies, but she gravitates toward roasted nuts, fresh fruit, or a dark chocolate square.

“I used to link clean eating with punishment,” she says. “Right now, I look after myself.”

And the best thing about it? Her meals are full of taste, happiness, and the freedom to savor life, thus she never feels as though she is missing anything.