Let's face it, many of us live a super stressed and busy lifestyle. There is often not enough hours in the day to stay on top of everything. But being busy doesn't necessarily mean having to forgo healthy eating habits; it just requires some knowledge, being mentally prepared and anticipate your eating choices to keep energy levels in check.
Practice Damage Control: think about the damage control options you have. If there is no other choice but to stop at the gas station on the way to work or a drive thru, there are safe choices in every environment.
Wherever you stop off, take care of those hunger pains and focus on PROTEIN AND FIBER. Grab fresh fruit, dry roasted nuts, cheese dry hardboiled egg, beef jerky's water beverage.
If you end up stopping at the drive thru, at least make the effort to get out of your car and go into the restaurant. There are more/better choices inside than out.
Fast Food Vs. Fast Casual restaurants: If you have a choice of fast casual (e.g. TGIF) versus fast food restaurant (e.g. McDonalds), go for fast casual as they offer baked, healthier dishes to choose from.
Avoid trigger words like "value meals" (highest margin for restaurant /lowest quality for you) or "kids menu: (offers zero nutrition).
How to Keep Good Nutrition Convenient at Home?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so make it count. A hearty breakfast fuels the body for the day's activities, and a fast food muffin just won't cut it. A plant based protein shake is a great option, as are filling flax and chia cereals, or whole grain toast with nut butter and a piece of fruit.
Make your own pre-packaged goodies. Invest in some reusable glass or stainless steel lunch containers, and pre-prepare your meals and snacks. Stack in the refrigerator for easy access, and voila, instant healthy nibbles, nothing artificial in sight.
Menu Planning. This one is a big one. Not only does it organize meal preparation down to a fine art, but it also reduces ingredient waste (i.e. no more veggies wilting in the crisper!). By looking up recipes and planning out meals and snacks in advance you can ensure that every leaf is used. Why not focus on a couple of seasonal ingredients per week, and prepare dishes that highlight these star players in different ways.
Don't forget about leftovers. Store uneaten food in an airtight container and enjoy a fuss free meal later. Leftover mains often translate well into delicious sides; warm pesto pasta makes for a great pasta salad served cold the next day!
Smoothie lovers can prep in advance too. Hate washing the blender every time you liquefy your lunch? Although one good scrub is unavoidable, you can cut down on dishes by making an extra batch, and organizing tomorrow's breakfast at the same time.
Take your time. Enjoying the flavor of the items on your plate really is the best way to consume your food. Chewing each bite a number of times makes your meal easier to digest than if you were to simply swallow each piece whole.
Eat regularly. Skipping meals or depriving yourself of food can often result in an unhealthy late night snack fest. If you choose to chomp in front of the TV, go for healthy options; hummus and veggies, kale chips, or a couple of handfuls of homemade tail mix are all nice, nutritious treats.
Remember, each day is a new opportunity to make smart meal and snack choices.
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