Hopefully over the last couple weeks you’ve made some lifestyle changes that have allowed you to exercise more. If not, keep at it. Figuring out what works best for your unique situation takes time—and more than a few mistakes. Your journey to getting and keeping the body you want doesn’t stop at finding time to exercise, though. Eating right is just as important, and unfortunately doing it correctly can be just as difficult. To help you on your way, here are some of the strategies I use to eat well while still fulfilling my duties as mom, significant other, employee, and athlete.
Fast Food, Redefined
Because I always seem to be running from one task to the next, it’s no surprise that I tend to eat-on-the-go far more than I would like to. Although I could order the plain grilled chicken breast sandwich with no mayo, no side of fries, and, well, no flavor, at the nearest drive-thru, it just never happens. My personal favorite excuse to use has something to do with saving money on the cheeseburger off the dollar menu, but, truth be told, I like grease and salt. I had to come up with a way to avoid the drive-thru altogether.
My solution: healthy grab-‘n’-go snacks from home that hold up well, even after spending a few hours on the passenger seat of my car or in my shoulder bag. Think about the types of food you crave during the day, and stock up on the foods that satisfy those cravings. For example, if you tend to crave protein in the middle of the day, consider clearing out a spot in your freezer for some low-fat yogurt cups. Wrap one in a paper towel before throwing it in your purse (The paper towel insulates it and absorbs condensation.), and it will still be cold when you dive into it a few hours later. Need veggies and vitamins? Spend the few extra cents on baby carrots instead of large carrots, packaged broccoli crowns instead of the entire head, on shelled edamame (just the beans) instead of the regular stuff; you’ll save yourself prep time and space in the dishwasher. I’ve also been known to forego apples and bananas for a plastic container filled with a pre-packaged, frozen fruit medley. Instead of chips, I opt for rice cakes and the occasional handful of almonds or other unsalted nuts. And, sometimes, I even blow my sodium allowance by indulging in beef jerky. Hey, it’s not as bad as a Big Mac®.
Plan Ahead
While snacking on the go is a great way to spread out your calories, no one wants to snack all the time; at some point, you’ll want a real meal, so be prepared for it. Pick out a day during the week to cook—Sundays work best for me—and make healthy dinners for the entire week. Find recipes that freeze well or can hang out in the fridge for a couple days, and make 2-3 different meals on your “cooking day.” You can save yourself even more time during the week by divvying up the meals into single-serve containers. If you get hungry for a home-cooked meal on a Thursday night, all you have to do is take a trip to the freezer. For meals that don’t lend themselves easily to pre-cooking, do as much as you can ahead of time. For example, even though chopped lettuce and diced tomatoes don’t keep well in the fridge, cooked taco meat does.
With all the ads out there for budget-conscious fast food, we all know how tempting it is to pick “quick, easy, and cheap” over “healthy.” But with a little pre-planning and smart shopping, you don’t have to make that choice. “Healthy” can be just as quick, easy, and budget-friendly as “greasy and sodium-laden.” And the best part? You won’t feel guilty about it later.