Busy Person? No Problem!

Try These Healthy Eating Tips

"Every time I try to eat healthy, along comes Easter, Christmas, winter, Friday, Wednesday, Monday, Thursday, Tuesday, or the weekend ... and ruins it." -- Unknown

Eating healthy can seem daunting, given how busy we all are. Who has time to cook nutritious meals every day?

We're always on the go. It's so much easier to grab something quick and convenient than to take the time to prepare a nutritious meal.

But eating healthy is essential to our overall health and well-being. The good news is that there are hacks to make it easier.

So, here are my 5 tips for eating healthier even when super busy:

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Tip #1: Get rid of trigger foods

Are there certain foods that you cannot resist?

My trigger food is Nutella. I love it and will eat it by the spoonful right out of the jar. I even have a custom Nutella painting hanging in my kitchen.

If I keep Nutella in the house, I have a tough time resisting it. The solution? I'll no longer keep it in my house.

If you have certain trigger foods - maybe it's ice cream or chocolate chip cookies for you - it may be best not even to keep them in your house. You'll be more likely to stick to your healthy eating plan by keeping trigger foods out of sight and out of reach.

If you do want a treat, plan to indulge as a special occasion rather than keeping tempting foods within arm's reach where you eat them mindlessly.

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Tip #2: Keep healthy snacks on hand

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to eating healthy is snacking. It's so easy to grab a bag of chips or a candy bar (or eat out of the Nutella jar) when you're hungry. BTW, most granola and protein bars are little more than "candy bars in disguise."

To avoid this trap, stock up on healthy snacks that you enjoy. Keep them at home, at the office, and in your purse.

My favorite healthy snacks include trail mixes with nuts and seeds, dried plums, grass-fed beef jerky sticks, and apple slices with peanut butter. I often carry a small bag of raw almonds in my purse. I also keep healthy snacks in my fridge, such as hard-boiled eggs, greek yogurt, and hummus (an excellent veggie dip).

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Tip #3: Stock up on healthy convenience foods for easy cooking

There are plenty of healthy convenience foods that can be a timesaver when you're too busy to cook a nutritious meal from scratch.

Look for pre-packaged salad greens, frozen vegetables, pre-cooked brown rice or quinoa, low-sodium canned beans, canned tuna or salmon, and rotisserie chicken. You can combine these foods with other ingredients to make a healthy and satisfying meal in just minutes.

Just be sure to read the labels and choose options low in sodium and free of added sugars and saturated fats.

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Tip #4: Sign up for a subscription meal kit

If you're looking for a convenient way to eat healthier without having to do all the meal planning and grocery shopping yourself, consider signing up for a subscription meal kit.

It's been a game-changer for me. Companies like Hello Fresh, Home Chef, and Green Chef offer delicious and nutritious meals that are delivered right to your door once a week. The meals are pre-measured and prepped so that you can create a home-cooked meal in 30 minutes tops.

I've tried several of them and have been a fan of Green Chef for the past 4 years. I love that all their ingredients are organic and how convenient it is. I don't like grocery shopping or having to think about what to cook. The only planning I have to do is select which meals I want for the following week.

Get 50% off your first Green Chef order by using this referral link. You can cancel anytime, but - if you're like me - you might stick with it for years.

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Tip #5: Take Advantage of Healthier Chain Restaurants

Fast food and traditional restaurants are notorious for offering foods loaded with salt, fat, and sugar.

But fortunately, we now have alternatives: healthier chain restaurants such as Dig Inn (my favorite), Sweetgreens, Freshii, and many more.

These places offer tasty and nutritious meals made with whole foods and fresh ingredients. Their meals might still be high in calorie count, but they're much more nutritious than fast food or standard restaurant meals.

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There you have it – five tips for eating healthier even when your life is crazy busy.

Remember, it's all about finding what works for you and making small, sustainable changes over time.

What's your biggest struggle with eating healthy? Hit reply and let me know.

Best,

Christine

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P.S. I didn't talk about alcohol in this blog. You already know that drinking too much can create havoc on your health (and alcohol is full of empty calories). Check out my previous blog post to discover my 11 Tips for Cutting Back Your Alcohol Consumption.​

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