I was having an interesting conversation about our latest campaign with a family member last night. She said "Does anyone that reads your blog actually eat fast food…?" And this brings up a struggle I hear often. We all tend to rely on fast or processed store-bought options when we are not prepared - even if we know it's not good for us.
Here's how to change that.
It's Thursday night and you just got off of work. You're feeling exhausted and starving. After you pick the kids up or run an errand, you head directly to the grocery store and speed through the aisles looking for something fast and easy for dinner.
After you load up your cart with a store-brand rotisserie chicken and rolls, you remember that you have no plan for lunch tomorrow…
"What do I have in the house to pack for lunch? ....and what about breakfast?" You're not sure, but it's a pretty safe bet that the fridge is empty because you were too busy to go shopping last weekend.
Your stomach is growling and you can't wait to get home, so you start grabbing quick options for tomorrow's meals… Yoplait Yogurt, Bumble Bee Tuna, Goldfish Crackers, Bread, Honey Nut Cheerios.
You start rationalizing, "Are Lean Cuisines REALLY that bad? They are soooo easy….". So you decide to grab a few while rushing through the aisles and making a beeline for the checkout stand. While waiting to ring out, "Oh, yum… look at those Snickers bars!". Better grab those too.
As you look down at your cart, you know these are not the healthiest food choices, but you are tired and stressed. You tell yourself you'll get it together next week - this is the best you can do right now.
Have you ever felt this way? Everyone's schedule and lifestyle is different, but I think pretty much all of us can relate to feeling TOO BUSY to eat healthy. There is a way to eat healthy without giving up on the foods you love, no matter how crazy busy your life is.
The solution is to create a lifestyle that makes healthy eating natural and easy.
Like everything else in life, this can take some work to get going, but eventually you will create habits that last a lifetime. Below are some tips for creating a lifestyle that makes healthy eating a breeze!
- Make your breakfast at night. If you leave early in the mornings, this will make sure that you start your day off right! Try preparing some Apple Pie Chia Pudding or an Avocado Banana Berry Smoothie.
- Clean out the junk! If it's not there, you won't be tempted.
- Stock your house (and to-go bag) with healthy snacks. Most people make bad food choices when they are in a hurry, so make sure you have healthy options within an arm's reach! Check out this list here to help ya get started!
- Make double batch of dinner and freeze the 2nd half for later. Do the work only once and have dinner waiting for you when you're too tired to cook!
- Keep quick whole foods on hand that you can make a meal out of. Eating healthy doesn't need to be complicated. Think frozen quinoa and beans that can be heated up and mixed with chopped tomato and avocado for a quick southwestern-style bowl.
- Make a big pot of soup on Sunday to eat for lunch throughout the week. I love having a homemade soup leftovers waiting for me in the fridge!
- Join a CSA to have fresh food delivered automatically. Many cities now have CSA programs available that will deliver organic, fresh local fruits, vegetables, meat, and eggs to a nearby pick-up spot every week! Check for any in your area here.
- Break in your slow cooker. Create one-pot meals that will be ready when you get home. Little work and hardly any cleanup!
- Invest in a good stainless steel water bottle and keep full of filtered water to drink throughout the day. I love this insulated bottle from Thinksport. It works great for hot tea too!
Don't feel like you need to do everything all at once! Just start off with one or two of these tips and start working them into your life. Over time, I think you will be amazed at how much easier it is for you to stick with a healthier diet!
If you liked these tips, I've got a lot more! Check your email tomorrow for some special tips that will help set yourself up for success.
Xo,
Vani
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