Anna's Tips: Healthy Meals for a Busy Life
Posted by Jeanne M. Schmit, Pharm. D. on Sat, Jan 15, 2011 @ 03:37 PM
I’ve spoken with many of you at the studio about our busy personal schedules and how important it is to make time to exercise. We have work, family, home upkeep, social commitments, and a whole slew of other things to attend to on any given day. We have managed to work fitness into our regular routines, but how do we manage to find healthy food options in this jam-packed schedule? Here are a few tips I find helpful:
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Each weekend, plan your dinner menu for the coming week. Sit down with your calendar and
decide which evenings you (or someone else in the house) will have time to cook and which days will be best to eat left-overs or quicker healthy meals. Set out the recipes you will need and start to write out your grocery list.
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Decide on your lunches for the week. I like to choose a healthy salad – some combination of fresh veggies and a hearty whole grain that will keep for the week (Try Cooking Light Magazine for some great ideas). Again, set aside the recipe and add these items to your grocery list.
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Also on the weekend, plan your snacks for the hectic week. Things like string cheese, yogurt, nuts, hummus and veggies, rice cakes, etc. Add these to the list!
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Go grocery shopping and STICK TO YOUR LIST!
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After your grocery shopping trip, spend time preparing your week’s lunch. Make a large batch of your salad (or whatever you’ve chosen for your lunches) and separate it into individual containers. Cut up veggies and fruit, divide nuts and other snacks, and put each into an “easy-to-grab” bag or container. No excuses this week! If you’re hungry, you’ll have a variety of easy snacks to choose from.
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If you have a bit of a sweet tooth (like me) buy individually wrapped dark chocolate and eat only 1 or 2 pieces after dinner for that craving you just can’t kick. Another idea: Drink a sweet/spicy tea – I like Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice.
This may seem like a lot of work all at once, but I think you’ll realize throughout the week how much time you save in the long run. No more scrambling to figure out what’s for lunch or dinner. No more last minute trips to the grocery store when the family is hungry (and let’s admit, crabby). No more reaching for the phone to order unhealthy take-out or quick trips through the drive-through because “there’s nothing to eat”! Not only is this a time saver, you will find you are eating much healthier and feeling better.