How to Make Healthy Eating More Convenient

You live a busy life.

You’re always running around and have so much to do!

Work, family time, social time, where is the time to eat healthy?

You want to eat healthy, but it seems much more convenient to just make a PB & J sandwich, a pizza, or have a bowl of cereal.

I know this, because I’ve done it.

Some days I’m busy, come home tired and I’ll eat the first thing I can find – whether that is healthy or not.

Why?

Because in those situations I just want food that require the least amount of work, regardless of what it is.

The easier it is to prepare and the faster I can get it the more likely I am to eat it.

You’re probably the same way.

I’m sure you know what to eat. You know that scarfing down Big Macs isn’t healthy eating, but knowing and doing are two separate things.

You want to know how to make healthy eating more convenient? Read on.

Buy Healthy Food

Whoa, big shocker here! It seems obvious, but this is an often ignored step of this whole healthy eating lifestyle. In order to eat healthy, you have to have healthy foods in your house. Take one or two days per week to go to the grocery store and stock up on healthy foods. These foods can include some of the following:

• Lean Protein (Chicken, fish, seafood,  lean cuts of beef, eggs, cottage cheese, yogurt, whey protein, lentils, beans)
• Fruits and Vegetables (Aim for a wide variety of colorful fruits and veggies. In season fruits and veggies are best)
• Whole Grains (Oats, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa)
• Healthy fats (Fish oil, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, raw nuts and seeds)

Also, if you have any junk food in your house you’re eventually going to eat it. Accept this. Eliminating the junk food you have in your house in the first place makes it much easier to eat healthy and will limit your temptations.

Prepare Healthy Food Ahead of Time

To make healthy eating more convenient you have to make it readily available and that means preparing food ahead of time. The easiest way to do this is to prepare food in bulk 1-2 times per week.

Try grilling 6-8 chicken breasts at a time, making a big pot of healthy stew (Yummly is a great site for finding recipes) or preparing a healthy meal in a slow cooker. You can save the chicken for a few days and divide the stew into a few small containers to have throughout the week.

Do you like eggs for breakfast? Blend a dozen eggs, store them in a container and simply pour as needed for a quick omelette.

Take 10 Minutes to Plan Each Week

What do you have going on this week? Are you busier at work than normal? Are you going to have time to cook your meals? What is the best day to prepare food ahead of time?

Thinking about questions such as these and taking time to plan your week will help you make healthy eating more convenient. If you know that Thursday you aren’t going to have much time for dinner then you can plan ahead and make sure you have food ready to reheat quickly when you get home or have stock your fridge with a few healthy pre-packaged meals (Which I mention in a little while).

You don’t have to spend an entire day planning your week, nor should you, but taking a few minutes out of your day to do so will surely help you.

Stock Your House With Quick and Easy Healthy Snacks

When you don’t have much time, or are on the go, quick and easy healthy snacks are a lifesaver. These foods are great for when you just need a little something to eat, but aren’t ready for a meal just yet. Healthy snacks comprise some of the following foods:

• Proteins: Beef jerky, hard-boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, string cheese, whey protein
• Veggies: Baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices
• Fruits: Bananas, apples, pears, oranges
• Healthy Fats: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanut butter, almond butter

You can combine a few of these nutrient-dense healthy foods to create great healthy snacks for wherever you are.

Make a List of 4-5 Quick Go To Recipes

Having a few go to healthy recipes that don’t take much time to prepare can make healthy eating much more convenient.

52 Healthy Meals in 12 Minutes or Less should give you a few ideas for healthy recipes.

You can also check out 25 Healthy Recipes Ready in 20 Minutes or Less for even more options.

Source
http://www.justgofitness.com/how-to-make-healthy-eating-more-convenient/