The Ultimate Clean Eating Grocery List- 50 Foods

Healthy shopping made easy.

greek chicken kebabs

“Wow! You look great!” “Thanks, I feel great, too!” Who doesn’t want to have that conversation? Looking fabulous and feeling healthy comes from a combination of regular exercise and smart eating habits. Healthy eating starts with stocking your kitchen and pantry with the right foods. We’re sharing the ultimate clean eating grocery list, 50 of the foods that will put you on the path toward the positive change you deserve.

Make shopping with a clean eating grocery list easier by downloading our FREE Clean-Eating Menu Planner.

Clean Eating Grocery List- 50 Foods

The foods below are non- or minimally processed, and many are used regularly in Skinny Ms. recipes. You’ll find many items on this clean eating grocery list by walking the outer perimeter of the grocery store. Interior aisles are stocked largely with processed foods containing too much added salt, refined sugars, and chemical preservatives.

Produce

This sweet and creamy berries and basil cream cheese toast is the perfect easy breakfast!

Fresh or frozen fruits and veggies are must-haves because they’re the foundation for any healthy lifestyle. When possible, choose organic to reduce the risk of exposure to pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Find out which non-organic produce has the highest risk of chemical exposure in The Dirty Dozen.

1. Apples

Keep the doctor away by snacking on them or using them in dishes like Harvest Quinoa and Apple Salad.

2. Bananas

This Strawberry Banana Smoothie is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a post-workout refresher.

3. Carrots

Snack on these on their own or enjoy a meal that’s ready when you come home with One-Pan Honey Roasted Chicken and Carrots.

4. Berries

Stock up on strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries, and more! Treat yourself to a healthy breakfast with Berries and Basil Cream Cheese Toast.

5. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

From kale to spinach, dark green veggies are a good foundation for building a better body. Try our yummy Spicy Kale Salad with Chickpeas & Maple Dijon Dressing.

6. Sweet Potatoes

Benefit from antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and better blood sugar regulation in dishes like Sweet Potato Fries.

7. Bell Peppers

Pepper meals, like Skinny Bell Pepper Nacho Boats, are rich in antioxidants and packed with vitamins, such as C, E, and K.

8. Garlic

This bulb adds plenty of good-for-you flavor to dishes like Cabbage Garlic Veggie Soup.

9. Onions

Crunch into a nutritious topping, appetizer, or side with Baked Onion Rings.

Beans and Legumes

This slow cooker red beans and rice dinner is full of nutrients and flavor.

These are a healthy—and budget-friendly—protein source, especially if you’re living a vegetarian lifestyle.

10. Beans
If you’re going canned, reach for low-sodium, no-added-sugar brands. Enjoy their health benefits in our Amazing Black Beanadillas or our Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice.

11. Legumes
This is a broader category that includes beans as well as peas and lentils. Try this Slow Cooker Lentil and Veggie Stew.

12. Edamame
This superfood, which is a green soybean, is a tasty snack or salad topping. Try our Air-Fried Edamame with Sweet Thai Chili Dressing.

Discover more snack ideas for your clean-eating shopping list in 50 Clean-Eating Snacks.

Lean Protein

Lean options are a good source of the protein that builds lean muscles, which, in turn, burn more calories. That’s why we’ve included plenty on this clean eating grocery list. Avoid the antibiotics found in some of these foods by choosing organic when available.

13. Lean Ground Turkey
Dig into the healthy and filling goodness of turkey by trying our Keto-Friendly Flavor-Packed Turkey Burger or this Turkey Basil Ragu.

14. Chicken Breasts
Get the protein without the fat found in other meats by making our The Easiest Air Fryer Chicken Breasts Recipe this week. You might also like to try this tasty Skinny Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast.

15. Seafood
Fish is an excellent source of protein. Options like salmon are loaded with healthy fats, too. Try this delicious Citrus Salmon Tray Bake or our Simple One Pan Lemon Salmon with Roasted Asparagus. You might also like this Light and Elegant White Fish and Vegetables and our Fast and Flavorful Chimichurri Shrimp.

16. Eggs
Packed with protein, eggs are an ideal superfood. Try our Quick and Easy Egg Muffins or these delicious Egg White Mini Breakfast Bites.

17. Non- or Low-Fat Greek Yogurt, Plain
Avoid flavored brands with refined sugar, and mix in your own fresh berries or nuts to add flavor. Try making our Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad with Toasted Pecans and Apples oe this yummy Vanilla Bean Yogurt Shake!

18. Low-Fat Cheese
Benefit from dairy-based protein in Slow Cooker Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata.

Grains

White flour is stripped of nutrients, making it an empty source of calories. Instead, add nutrient- and fiber-rich whole grains to your clean eating grocery list.

19. Quinoa
This is a power-packed superfood, so try one of our delicious quinoa recipes! We have plenty to choose from, including this Sweet Potato, Kale, and Quinoa Skillet or our Turkey Sausage and Quinoa Pizza Bowl.

20. Brown Rice or Wild Rice
Enjoy healthy brown rice in this Skinny Mexican Rice. Try some wild rice in this Creamy Wild Rice and Kale Casserole.

21. Whole Wheat Bread
Great for sandwiches, whole wheat slices are more filling and nutritious compared to white bread. Use some whole wheat bread when following the Steps to Make the Perfect Skinny Sandwich.

22. Whole Wheat Pasta
Yes, you can enjoy pasta as part of a better lifestyle. Try our yummy Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake.

23. Whole Wheat Tortillas
Wrap up family favorites, like these Spinach and Bean Burrito Wraps or Plant-Based Bean and Avocado Quesadillas. You can also make your own Homemade Whole Grain Tortillas!

Canned and Jarred Ingredients

These foods often make meal prep easier. Always read labels to make sure you’re purchasing items with no or little added sugar, salt, or preservatives.

24. Marinara
It’s simple to make your own Clean-Eating Sauce, but sometimes it’s more convenient to have a low-sodium, no-sugar-added brand on hand.

25. Chicken Broth
Stock up on this healthy foundational ingredient so you can enjoy recipes like this scrumptious Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheddar Soup.

26. Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Make this Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta or our Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken.

Baking

quick and easy drop biscuits

Baked treats are fine in moderation. By making them at home, you can control things like sugar and fat!

27. Whole Wheat Flour
Please family or guests with our Clean-Eating Apple Pie.

28. White Whole Wheat Flour
This flour is an unrefined whole grain flour that retains most of its nutrients unlike the white version. It is often preferred in baking because of its lighter texture. Try making our Quick and Easy Drop Biscuits.

Nuts and Seeds

Our sweet & spicy toasted almonds are the perfect snack for midday hunger.

Nuts and seeds are small but mighty. They deliver a host of good-for-you benefits, from omega-3 fatty acids to unsaturated (good) fats.

29. Almonds
Tap into almond’s superfood power with our Sweet And Spicy Toasted Almonds.

30. Walnuts
Have a great morning by enjoying walnuts and other tasty foods in these Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins.

31. Chia Seeds
Try these seeds in Mixed Berry Chia Jam.

32. Flax Seeds
Power up for the day with Flax and Apple Raisin Oatmeal.

Oils and Condiments

Clean, healthy ingredients combine to create one seriously tasty meal.

No clean eating grocery list would be complete without healthy oils and condiments for your cooking, baking, and snacking.

33. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
This ingredient is used in an abundance of different healthy recipes, even baking! Try it in our Olive Oil Honey Banana Bread.

34. Walnut Oil

Learn more about this nutrient-rich oil in 6 Healthy Oils and How to Use Them.

35. Coconut Oil
Unrefined coconut oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. Check out these 6 Ways to Use Coconut Oil in Your Recipes.

36. Balsamic Vinegar
This vinegar is the foundation for many healthy marinade and salad dressing recipes, such as this Strawberry Balsamic Dressing.

37. Mustard
Choose a no-sugar-added brand, and enjoy it in our Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken.

38. Ketchup
Buy a naturally-sweetened variety or make your own Ketchup and enjoy it in our recipe for Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes.

Herbs and Spices

fresh herbs are clean foods

If you need fresh herbs, find them in the produce section. Better yet, grow your own!

39. Basil
Satisfy the family with a delish basil meal, such as our Tomato Basil White Fish or snack on our Fresh Lime and Basil Fruit Salad.

40. Oregano
Try these flavorful Greek Chicken Kebabs.

41. Dill
Top burgers or nosh on fresh veggies with Dill Yogurt Spread.

42. Cinnamon
Health-up snack time by making simple Whole-Grain Cinnamon Pita Chips.

43. Rosemary
Add this side to your menu plan this week: Slow Cooker Homestyle Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary.

Sweeteners

honey is a natural sweetener

Processed sugar is a fast way to add pounds and wreak havoc on your health. Go natural instead!

44. Honey
We love this natural sweetener in our Pineapple Honey Shrimp Taco Bowl

45. Maple Syrup
With breakfast or in other dishes, like Skinny Sweet and Tangy Coleslaw, 100% pure maple syrup is a tasty alternative to refined sugar products.

46. Coconut Palm Sugar
We use this in recipes like the Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Milk and Milk Alternatives

Make this easy smoothie as a snack or for dessert on a warm, Spring or Summer evening!

Whether you’re pouring a tall, cool glass or using it in recipes, you’ll want to add milk (or an alternative) to your clean eating grocery list.

47. Low-Fat Milk
Non-flavored milk offers a healthy boost of protein. Kick processed coffee creamers to the curb with our clean-eating Coffee Creamer.

48. Almond Milk
Ground almonds make this milk alternative rich in antioxidants. Discover how yummy it can be in our Skinny Orange Julius.

49. Coconut Milk
Made from pressed coconut meat, this alternative delivers plenty of nutrients, like potassium, zinc, and folate. However, it’s high in fat, so use it in moderation. Try it in Coconut Curry Cauliflower.

Tea

Learn how to brew kombucha at-home and save yourself money!

Forget the highly sweetened brands and make the healthy choice while grocery shopping.

50. Green Tea
Unsweetened green tea, a no-calorie superfood, is included in many of our smoothie and drink recipes. Learn How To Brew Kombucha At Home!

Make positive changes! This clean eating grocery list is a good place to start. Remember to download our FREE Clean-Eating Menu Planner to help make shopping easier.

If you enjoyed this clean eating grocery list, you might also like to check out our Heart-Healthy Grocery List.

Discover more tasty recipes, clean-eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources by liking our Facebook page and following us on Pinterest.

This post may include affiliate links.

SkinnyMs.

The SkinnyMs. team believes that all people, regardless of age, size, and fitness level, have the power to transform their lives — they just need the resources to do so. The SkinnyMs. method promotes healthy living through a combination of clean eating and regular exercise. We offer everything you need to be successful.

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21 Comments

  1. How on earth do I print this article without having to copy and paste each page into a Word document?

    1. TBFMB, There really is no easy print button for articles yet (though the ziplist feature works well for recipes), although we will be making some changes to the site in the coming months, and this is a feature we will be adding. Stay tuned! We will look into adding this list as a free download to make things easier.

    1. Michelle, Whole grains are healthy and used in clean eating, just not refined grains such as white flour or white bread.

    2. Typically a paleo diet doesn't allow grains or legumes. I don't know much about it so I could be wrong.

  2. There is A LOT of this stuff I would never eat in a clean diet. I lost 45 pounds in 6 months so, I think I have some room to talk about dieting. The real trick is flavoring with out saturated fats, oils, salt or sugars. The best way to do this is use seasoning with herbs rather then sauces, my favorite is low sodium greek seasoning. Greek seasoning is great on salads, tuna and chicken breast. I never eat pasta and I usually eat bread maybe once every couple of days. So I substitute with oat meal and brown rice.

      1. I work out every night, I walk two miles up hill. Then I rotate doing weight and abs. One day I do legs and core the next I do arms, shoulders and chest. I eat six times a day, this is an example of what I eat. Oatmeal with blueberries, a rice cake with peanut butter, Brown rice and chicken breast, a salad with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, green peppers and tuna (season with greek seasoning), a sweet potatoes and an apple.

  3. These 50 products sound so good that the hardest thing about them would be not to buy all 50 at a time. 🙂
    I think I'll add maybe 10 of them to my grocery lists on buymeapie.com so that I could have them in my iPhone app when I go shopping, and will be back for the rest 40 later.

    That would be really convenient of the list of all the mentioned products could be imported somehow. They could make good reference list of healthy alternatives to what I usually buy from habit.

  4. I’ve lost 125lbs so far, but I haven’t gone to some of the extremes I’ve seen on this list. I’m eating clean and doing lifestyle changes I know I can stick to for the long term.

  5. I’m in my 70s, 5’4″, 120 lbs.
    I drink water and enjoy milk with cappuccino. I eat whole foods, e.g., beans/legumes, nuts, grains, vegetables, fruits, dates, butter, EVOO, fish, red meat (twice wk.), chicken. Salt, pepper, fresh garlic, basil, etc.
    I DO NOT eat processed frozen foods like dinners or pizza. No canned foods. No sugar, chocolate, candies, ice cream, deli meats or foods. No bakery goods such as cakes, donuts, pies, sodas.

    1. Christina, WOW…you’re amazing! It sounds like you’re on the right track with your eating plan. Do you exercise or walk?

  6. I am Annie Whitley,having problem losing weight went to the 186.9 gain 3 pounds. Plus do not do enough drinking 90 gallons of water. Really need help please anyone respond. Thank you,Annie Whitley

    1. Annie, Your comment isn’t clear. I’m not sure what’s meant by “not do enough drinking 90 gallons of water”?

  7. I am so confused by eating clean. Some people say stay away from dairy (yogurt, almond milk, etc) and others eat it and lose weight. Is tuna fish in a can okay if its rinsed well? Fish is very expensive so I feel like I am left with chicken and turkey, which I am not crazy about. Why are there so many variations of eating clean?

    1. Carrie, You’re right it varies, depending on who you’re talking to. Do your best to eat whole foods when possible. Otherwise, choose foods that are minimally processed and have ingredients that you know what they are and feel good about eating.

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