Wouldn’t it be nice to take time every morning to stop, eat breakfast, and smell the flowers? Reality is most of the time we are scrambling to get something in quickly so we can make it to work on time. Many of my clients are on the run eaters. I am an on the run eater. I live 5 miles from work and you would think, “yeah, she has ample time to wake up, cook breakfast, clean, feed the animals, exercise and get ready.” Nope! My lazy inner chick comes out daily, usually in the morning, and I roll out of bed after 2-3 snoozes, get the bare minimum done, and eat breakfast in the car or at work. At work, I am efficient, but still find myself working into my lunch hour and dinner sometimes gets pushed because of activity, meetings, work, etc. Sound familiar? I sympathize and my inner lazy chick sympathizes too. If you eat on the run, here are some tips to help you eat healthy without sacrificing  nutrients or taste:

1.) Lazy Day to Prep Day

I know what you are thinking, what is a lazy day for if I have to do work?! But you and I both know you will be in the kitchen at least once during your lazy day. Why not just take some extra time and cut up and pre-portion your meats, veggies, and snacks? Prep days will save your hours worth of work during the week and you won’t have to think about portions when you sit down to have the meal. You don’t have to cook it and have reheated meals all week either, but if you pre-portion what you need and stick it in the cooler, it takes all the prep work out of your week.

2.) Quality and Quantity Matter

Quality is important and you may need more than just a piece of fruit for breakfast or an afternoon snack. Eating too little or too much can affect your energy levels and your health goals, so make sure you are getting the right types of food as well as the right quantity. Everyone has unique health goals and how your nourished is as unique as you. If you need help figuring out the best plan to meet your goals, contact us.

3.) Your Last Resort Foods

When your moving fast paced, sometimes bringing a cooler and thermos with all the right foods can help get you through the day. But what if you can’t keep it cold or hot? Shelf stable products work wonders and you don’t need to worry about the extra containers. Items such as nuts, dried fruit, jerky, dehydrated foods, or bars can reduce prep time, increase shelf life, and doesn’t require equipment.  Just make sure you are watching out for additives that you don’t need. Too much sugar, salt, or fat are common in shelf stable products. In excess, these can hinder health goals.

4.) In the Drive-Thru?

In the south, healthy fast food should be an oxymoron. I will say, they are getting better, but most on-the-go restaurants still have a long way to go. Here are some options I have found are little more nutritious:

• Grilled nuggets and chicken breast versus fried
• Multi-grain bagels, whole wheat bread, and whole grain english muffins
• Canadian bacon, turkey bacon, and lean cuts of ham
• Kale and spinach salads
• Low-sugar yogurt
• Fresh fruit
• Oatmeal