No matter how busy you are you still have to eat. Sometimes that is easier said than done. You are always rushing around and there doesn’t seem to be any time to get healthy food. Though there is always time to get unhealthy food, unfortunately. Food is probably the number one thing that we can do to affect our lives and our health. Most of the time we do not realize this, as it is very hard to self-judge. The only time you will really understand is when you change to a healthier diet. You will often look back and not understand why you didn’t realize the damage it was doing to you and change your diet earlier. If you eat healthily, you feel better, and you will think much more clearly. Here are some ways that you can eat healthy when you do not believe you have the time to do so.
Breakfast
Don’t skip breakfast. You don’t have to make a three-course breakfast but you do need to make sure that you do have breakfast. A Pop-Tart does not count as breakfast. If you are always short of time in the morning, you can still take less than 5 minutes and make a decent breakfast. You can throw some spinach in a frying pan, mix up a few eggs and throw it on top, and have a fast omelet. You can add some cheese as well for a bonus. Really when you avoid breakfast, and justify it by saying you don’t have the time, that’s just an excuse. It’s because you don’t want to make the effort. If you have breakfast it will pay off in dividends throughout the whole day. You will feel sharper and you will not be as hungry. You will also be less inclined to eat that junk food that you know you should not eat.
Healthy snacks
Keep some healthy snacks with you. If you get hungry, instead of rushing to the vending machine for a candy bar, you can just reach into your desk and grab something healthy. It’s up to you what you have chosen as your healthy snack. It might be trail mix, a healthy fruit and nut bar, or even a little box of carrots. It does not really matter as long as it’s there. It’s hard to say no to junk food, but if you have an alternative close-by it becomes a lot easier.
Food shopping
Instead of rushing to the market and just grabbing a few things, you should plan out what you need for 2 weeks. Plan what you’re going to eat, and then buy what you need. Most vegetables will last in the refrigerator for over 2 weeks if fresh. You can always buy a lot of bags of frozen vegetables in the market as well that will last in your freezer for much longer than that. If you have healthy foods at home for you to cook, and preferably easy things to cook, then it is more likely you will eat healthy rather than going to fast food. Tip: don’t go to the market hungry, you might curse yourself later when you want some junk food, but you will be more disciplined when shopping.
Slow cooker
One of the GoTo’s for the chronically busy is the Crock-Pot, or slow cooker. You can cut up a bunch of vegetables and meats, or anything you like, and dump them in the Crock-Pot in the morning. Turn it on, and when you get home in the evening you will have an already cooked meal. You can make great stews, soups, or chili’s this way. You will feel like a gourmet.
Eating times
As much as we are all busy, and often try and eat at our desk and rush back to doing whatever job we are doing, it is better not to do so. It is much healthier to have a break and eat, and focus on the food. You should not to try and work and eat at the same time. You will enjoy the food more if you pay attention to it, and you will actually feel like you have had a meal. This will help you not snack all day long.
It’s really not that hard to eat healthy when you are busy. You have to realize that if you eat healthily, it actually takes less time, and the mental clarity you get will get more done in the day. Sometimes to get more done in your busy day, you have to step back and do one thing at a time. One of the first things you have to step back and do is have a scheduled and healthy food calendar. Eat regularly at the same times and you will have less inclination to eat things you shouldn’t, and your body will thank you.