There’s not really a need to eat that clean in a surplus. Calories are calories, the only benefit “clean” foods have is micronutrient density, but you can just have a balance of both. I eat about 60% clean, almost all of my protein, fats, and about 40% of my carbs are from whole foods and fulfill my micronutrient profile, and then the rest is just cereal. It tastes good, is cheap, and is way easier to eat in a surplus with that vegetables. Theres no need to make it harder for yourself
Eat McDonald’s or Whatab for a week while maintaining your caloric goals. Then look in the mirror. Your skin gets oilier, acne starts coming in, your digestion slows down, and your body odor shifts. That’s what processed seed oils, preservatives, and sodium overload do… it’s not magic it’s literally just biology. Now try a week of Whole Foods… ground beef, steaks, tuna, eggs, chicken, vegetables. Same calories. Your skin balances out, less bloating, better energy, and you won’t smell like BO.
You literally said, “there’s no need to eat that clean in a surplus,” then followed it with “I eat 60% clean and get the rest of my carbs from whole foods.” That’s a clean diet. You’re just sprinkling in cereal to top it off. So yeah, I read your comment. You’re just contradicting yourself while pretending you’re being flexible. Lol you eat clean, you just don’t want to admit it because “palatable carbs” sounds cooler than “yeah, I mostly eat real food.”