There are many facets to a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, strong relationships, plenty of sleep – all of which cannot be overlooked. However, there is one that affects all others and is, therefore, probably most important: diet.
Now, “diet” here doesn’t mean calorie restricting or eating nothing but lettuce. It simply means the foods you put into your body to fuel it.
That being said, if you want to reach optimal health, you’ll need to implement some rules. Eating healthy on the go, for instance, is a vital piece of the puzzle.
If you’re thinking this is easier said than done, we’re here to change your mind! Eating healthy isn’t as difficult as it seems, even when you’re on the go.
1. Don’t Skip Breakfast
If there’s one meal you should eat, it’s breakfast. Don’t have time to eat breakfast? Wake up 15 minutes earlier and make time.
Eating soon after you wake up boosts your metabolism and gives your body the energy it needs to make it through the morning. Don’t worry, breakfast can be quick!
A smoothie, yogurt and fruit, and peanut butter toast are all excellent options that take 5 minutes or less to make.
2. Buy Produce Pre-Chopped
A great way to reduce your time in the kitchen but still get all your fruits and veggies is to buy your produce pre-chopped and ready to eat.
You’ll spend a little more than you would otherwise, but you’ll make prep time virtually non-existent, in turn making healthy choices easier for yourself.
3. Prepare Snacks in Advance
Whether you put together snacks for the entire week or just enough to get you through the day, preparing snacks in advance is easy and will give you healthy foods to grab and go.
Take a few minutes to put some chopped apple and almond butter into a container, or a bit of yogurt and granola.
4. Meal Prep
It’s understandable if you get home from work and are far too exhausted to cook – the solution is to have all the hard work already done!
On your day off, think of 2 meals you’d like during the week. Make both of them and keep them in the fridge for easy dinners!
Cooking is the last thing some of us want to do with our precious free time, but if you want to stay healthy, it’s a sacrifice that must be made.
5. Utilize Your Freezer
The freezer is your best friend when it comes to preparing meals and snacks in advance. There are also some great frozen options at the grocery store that simply need to be heated up in order to be ready to eat.
When purchasing frozen foods, it’s important not to reach for TV dinners that are total junk. Instead, grab a few bags of frozen vegetables and rice and eat them when you’re in a rush.
6. Create a Meal Calendar
If you have a bit more time to cook but find yourself stuck when deciding what to make in the evenings, a meal calendar could be your answer!
In your phone or on a physical calendar, write down what you’ll have for dinner every day of the week. Then make sure that you have everything you need to make these meals.
When it’s time for dinner, you’ll have done all the thinking necessary ahead of time!
7. Take Advantage of Your Office Fridge
Not everyone works in an office, but if you do, use the fridge and freezer in your office kitchen to your advantage. In doing so, you can make your snacks a bit more varied, and even keep frozen food for lunches in the work freezer!
Keeping a container of fruit or vegetables and hummus handy can make a huge difference in your diet, as you’ll have healthy options ready to go when you’re ready for a mid-morning snack.
8. Keep Meals Simple
If you enjoy cooking, by all means, meal prep elaborate dishes to your heart’s content. But if cooking isn’t your thing, there’s nothing wrong with keeping your meals as simple as possible.
Look for recipes that call for minimal ingredients and don’t take too much time to make. When you get tired of your chosen meals, add a new one to the rotation.
9. Invest in a Crockpot
A crockpot is a lifesaver for those of us with very little time for cooking. All you have to do is throw your ingredients in, set it on low, and let it do all the work for you!
From soups to chilis, even barbeque, crockpots are criminally underrated but absolute magic. The best part is, you won’t have to spend hours on clean up – rinse out the crockpot and you’re done.
10. Don’t Keep Junk Food Around You
Don’t feel guilty if you have a weakness for junk food. It was engineered to be as delicious as possible so that you would want to buy a lot of it. But putting your health first means cutting as much of this food out as you can.
One of the best ways to do so is to not keep junk food around you. Never bringing it into your home or your car is a great place to start, but what about the office?
If you have vending machines stocked with cookies and candy, suggest that at least one be replaced with a healthy you vending machine to give you and your coworkers healthy options.
Use this Guide to Eating Healthy on the Go to Improve Your Life
As you can see, eating healthy on the go isn’t as difficult as it’s made out to be. By taking a few extra minutes in the evening or on your day off to set yourself up for success, you can change your entire diet for the better.
Remember, eating healthy foods is absolutely essential to your overall health.
Looking for more things you can do to improve your health? Be sure to take a look at our blog!