Finding Time to Make Smart Food Choices

Let’s face it, you’re busy. So am I! I understand the need for speed when making every day eating decisions. It’s easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of our daily life (especially during the holiday season) so on hectic days I rely on a few tried and true tips for staying healthy amidst the chaos!

Here are my top 5 favorite tips for getting ahead of your busy day:

1. Take the decision-making out of breakfast and automate it. When you have to think too hard or do too much work, you’re less likely to eat at home, or eat at all! During hectic times in my schedule, I decide what I want for breakfast, stock my pantry/fridge with it, and then I don’t even think about it in the morning.
2. You know the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well recent research shows that apples may do just that - or at least keep you from getting sick. Stress can make you twice as likely to catch your child’s cold virus or your co-worker’s stomach flu. When I’m on the go, I make it a point to grab an antioxidant-rich apple for my afternoon snack to keep my immune system strong. I’m also extra vigilant about taking my multivitamin every day.
3. My best defense at dinner time is to think ahead and do some prep work for the next day. I always try to plan tomorrow’s meal while I’m making tonight’s. I’ll cut extra onions or vegetables, cook double batches of quinoa for later in the week or throw meats in a marinade overnight. I’ll also roast extra vegetables, shred zucchini or cheese, and brown up some ground beef. Then I just store these ingredients in the refrigerator to use throughout the week.
4. For evenings I know I won’t be home until later, I utilize my slow cooker that morning so dinner is waiting for me whenever I get home! A little prep in the morning (or the night before) frees up my evenings for time with family and makes super busy nights stress free.
5. Making a grocery list is my most powerful time-saver during stressful periods. I learned this lesson years ago after one too many trips back to the store to pick up what I forgot to get! Don’t you hate that? Now I keep a running list on the fridge and add to it each week. I get in and out of the store quickly and avoid getting sucked into going down every aisle – this is a big time waster for me, as I easily get caught up reading the labels (and maybe even taking pictures) of cool new foods!

What about you? What do you do during busy times to stay healthy?

Tagged with: healthy diet • lifestyle • stress

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