Between work, family, household chores and other duties, finding the time and energy to eat healthy can feel impossible. It’s easy to succumb to eating granola bars for breakfast, fast food for lunch and take out for dinner. But what if I tell you that it’s possible to live a busy lifestyle and still eat healthy. It’s something I do everyday and I know that you can do it too! It just involves a little bit of planning and strategy. 😉
Here are 5 ways to eat healthy no matter how busy you are.
Plan your meals ahead of time and go grocery shopping!
When you’re busy, you feel pretty depeleted at the end of the day and it’s easy to make bad food choices. That’s why it’s important to plan your meals ahead of time, rather than on an empty stomach when your will power is gone. Once you know what you’re going to eat, it’s easier to stick with that plan.
Go grocery shopping!
Once you have your meals planned, go grocery shopping and buy all of the ingredients for the week. That way, you’re not wasting important time grocery shopping every single day. You may think this sounds like a lot of work but I promise you’ll save time in the long run and you’ll be less likely to cheat!
Keep a stash of healthy snacks
When hunger strikes and you have deadlines to meet, it’s easy to opt for less healthy options. Some would even settle for anything that’s available in the pantry. To encourage healthy eating, I recommend that you keep a stash of healthy snacks like nuts, beef jerky (no added sugar!), unsweetened dried fruits or trail mix within arm’s reach. These snacks will keep hunger at bay, so you can sit down and enjoy a full meal once you’re done.
Embrace the slow cooker!
No one has time to slave away over the stove at the end of the day. Do a little prep at the beginning of the day and use your slow cooker! Just throw in all the ingredients and let it do its magic. It cooks anything from oatmeals to soups to meats. With this multi-tasking tool, you and your family can enjoy a hearty meal every single day.
Stick to the real deal
It’s easy to grab a can of fruit juice when running out the door. But these beverages have very little nutritional value and are packed with artificial sugars. My advice: make smoothies instead.
Smoothies are packed with tons of vitamins and minerals. Plus, it will only take a few minutes to prepare. To speed up the preparation process, place pre-sliced fruits in a zip-loc and put it in the freezer. This way, you can just dump all the ingredients in the blender when you’re ready to puree.
