If you aren't clear of the definition of "eating clean," then let's ask, what strawman do you think the author was knocking down?
First, it was raw veganism = clean eating.
Then, coconut oil = clean eating.
Then the alkaline diet = clean eating.
Gluten-free = clean eating.
Dairy free = clean eating.
Serious question: how can "we" agree we "fell" for something if we can't even define what we are talking about?