You are so busy. We are all so, so busy. Sometimes eating literally feels like life or death as you head from school to work, from work to second work, from work to kidsâ activities⌠and all the things in between! I get it, trust me. With coaching, running my wellness center & boutique, being a landlord, creating content, working other jobs, studying for my next certification, trying to work out, and attempting a social life... I get busy! And I have a few thoughts on how to make healthy options throughout the week a little easier.
If you prefer to listen than read, I recently recorded a podcast episode on this topic... You can listen right here! (It's also available on your favorite podcast platform)
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I canât emphasize this enough. For me it is Sundays, because that is when I am home and free(ish), but it could be anywhere in your week that you can carve out a couple of hours. I know this is challenging sometimes, but good things are always challenging, and I promise it will be worth it as your week goes on.
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Guess what â frozen vegetables, pre-cut vegetables, pre-washed vegetables â still vegetables! Canned beans are ready to eat. Salad kits come pre-mixed with all the veggies. Fruit comes cut up. Carry out sections like at Wegmans usually have steamed vegetables ready to go. Utilize what works for your family.
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When you food prep or batch cook, think big picture â instead of making potatoes for a meal, make the whole bag. Roast two heads of broccoli instead of one. Instead of making two tacos for dinner, make a dozen and stick them in the fridge or freezer. If you donât mind eating oatmeal for breakfast, make them all in the fridge at once or bake it and cut it into pieces. A few extra minutes up front saves a massive amount of time during the week and keeps you from making less nutritious choices later.
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Get ones that you like in the sizes you need, especially for lunches and snacks. They donât need to be expensive or fancy. For example, I have 1/4 cup plastic ones from the dollar store. When I buy a bag of almonds, I immediately fill a bunch of them and ta-da, pre-protioned, grab-and-go snacks.
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Fruit comes in itâs own handy, transportable package. Utilize it! You can bake oatmeal or granola bars at home with very few ingredients and low cost. You can pre-portion nut butter or hummus into small containers to take with vegetables or whole grain crackers.
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Whole grain pasta instead of white. Brown rice instead of white. Beans instead of beef. Sweet potatoes instead of white (sometimes). You can also find replacement items for less-than-healthy choices. Right now, next to the berries and vegetables, my freezer has Trader Joeâs burritos, cauliflower gnocchi, Aldiâs cauliflower rice, and hash brown potatoes. There are healthy versions of your favorite easy foods â do your research, read labels, and ask questions!
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Some quick research before you head out will let you know which restaurants will have the options you're looking for, so think ahead. Never has there been a time when plant-based options are so readily available! When ordering out or hitting up a drive-through, avoid processed meats and cheeses, and deep fried things. Salads are on most menus â just watch the dressing portions. Wheat rolls or shells are usually available. Subway really is a good option! Thatâs my go-to in a pinch. I have also been known to order a vegetarian burrito on wheat with guacamole from Mighty Taco⌠đđŽ You can usually find healthy options at Mexican or Asian places if you focus on vegetables, brown rice, and beans.
Is any of this helpful? Are there certain tips you would like to know more about? Please comment and ask away! đ