Who is looking for at least 5 tips for healthy meals for a busy lifestyle? While life may not get any less busy, you can at least be prepared and make sure you still consume healthy meals.
We have all been the victim of being unprepared when it comes to food and hunger. Among a day of work, running errands, working out, and the numerous other things life throws at you, we’ve all known the moment of epiphany that comes along with the realization that we haven’t had anything to eat yet today.
There is nothing worse for your body or metabolism than outright not eating; there is a reason that robbing your body of nutritional needs is not the recommended way to lose weight.
In fact, eating several well balanced meals a day will help shed fat, maintain your metabolism, and hang on to muscle mass when combined with an active lifestyle.
The problem, however, is that so many of us are too active, and in the wrong ways. We let family, friends, and work get in the way of our basic nutritional needs. Just because you live a healthy and active lifestyle does not mean you can’t benefit from delicious and nutrient packed foods on a regular basis.
The key is to make eating as much of a pattern as brushing your teeth in the morning or combing your hair daily. You just need to lay down a little groundwork so that you can benefit from healthy meals that work for your busy life.
Tip #1 – Portion out snacks
Portion out 1 size servings of things like pretzels, almonds, grapes, cheese, or whatever other snacks you love that will keep you satiated throughout the day. Rather than relying on your time late at night or early in the morning to bag your food for the next day, simply have snacks readily available to pop in your lunch bag or purse and keep moving without a second thought.
Tip #2 – Have a “Prep Day”
Choose a day of the week you would normally do your grocery shopping and give you a little extra time to prep for the entire week. This means cutting up fruits and vegetables and portioning them out in Ziploc bags or containers in your refrigerator (check tip #1 for snack suggestions).
This also means making a big pot of brown rice and/or sautéing some chicken in lemon and olive oil and steaming some fresh veggies so that you have easy go-to meals ready for you all week long.
Tip #3 – Always have food at your disposal
Don’t ever leave home with nothing to eat. Whether it’s leaving a granola bar in your car, a banana in your purse, or a bag of almonds in your desk at work, make sure you always have food available to you so that you don’t forget to eat and don’t go hungry.
Tip # 4 – Invest in a slow cooker
Dinner is always the most difficult meal to dedicate time. Use a slow cooker, this way you can make healthy cuts of lean protein like chicken breast and allow it to cook in its own juices all day with a variety of condiments, vegetables, or starches to pair.
As soon as you get home your house will smell like a gourmet restaurant and your whole family will be thankful for a home cooked meal, even though with your busy schedules.
Tip #5 – Fight the urge for indulgence or a “quick fix”
Allowing yourself to go all day without eating is the result caused by being unprepared. However, another side effect is that when we allow our bodies to starve, we go into survival mode and will gorge on the first edible thing at our disposal.
This is why drive through fast food restaurants are so appealing to the masses; don’t allow yourself to crave food by being prepared and you won’t have any urges to give in to.
Many days throughout the year you will be extremely busy with activities. Don’t get caught short by not eating enough healthy foods to fuel your body for your busy schedule.
What tip(s) do you have for preparing healthy meals with busy and hectic schedules?
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36 Replies to "5 Tips for Healthy Meals for a Busy Lifestyle"
Stephanie
Twitter: teamfitmommy
January 2, 2015 (9:22 am)
Great Tips! I do all of these things and it helped me lose and maintain my 50 lb. weight loss!
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 2, 2015 (9:37 am)
That is major Stephanie. I am incorporating this because it works.
Annmarie
Twitter: fitfoodiemama
January 2, 2015 (11:05 am)
Having healthy food choices on hand and investing in a slow cooker are definitely the two things that help me to stay on track! If I get caught out and about without a healthy snack I get hangry and more likely to grab whatever is close enough to satiate my hunger!
o
Elle
Twitter: eatrunsail
January 2, 2015 (11:43 am)
Good tips. I like to have my ‘basics’ on hand so that I can always put together something good to eat in a hurry!
Lori
Twitter: thehealthminded.com
January 2, 2015 (3:26 pm)
All great points to keep us eating right and saving money from eating out and grabbing expensive and unhealthy ways to curb the hunger! I always try to not leave the house without water and a healthy snack in my purse!
Janelle
Twitter: Janelle_RWNR
January 2, 2015 (4:34 pm)
I need to follow these tips, especially when it comes to prepping and using the slow cooker!
o
Erica
Twitter: crumbycupcake
January 2, 2015 (7:20 pm)
Great tips! I have such a hard time setting myself a prep day…but I have to be better about it this year! I’ve started meal planning already, and I’m determined to do it right!
o
touristmeetstraveler January 2, 2015 (9:12 pm)
Can’t go wrong with protein and vegetables, that’s the perfect healthy combo!
Rachel January 2, 2015 (9:49 pm)
Great tips! Great healthy meals! 🙂
o
Robyn
Twitter: robynkimberly
January 3, 2015 (1:20 am)
Not having a “quick fix” is soooo key for me. Any time I reach for junk food I am always still hungry!
o
jill conyers
Twitter: jillconyers
January 3, 2015 (4:03 am)
Yes to everything on your list! Especially #s 2 and 3.
o
MJ
Twitter: FABHauteMama
January 3, 2015 (6:28 am)
Great tips Diatta. I struggle with meal prep daysainly because I like to switch it up during the week. I may break it down into two days.
My tip to add is to try new herbs & spices. So many people rely on salt or sugar for flavor and taste. Branching out to new herbs & spices helps develop taste buds and cut down on salt/sugar consumption.
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 3, 2015 (7:50 am)
MJ great tip.
RFC
Twitter: runfastermommy
January 3, 2015 (7:09 am)
These are great tips! My biggest two downfalls are prep and having snacks ready. I never do either, and often end up reaching for an “on the go” snack from a store…which typically isn’t the healthiest option.
o
Deborah
Twitter: deborahbrooks14
January 3, 2015 (10:15 am)
Great tips! I love the slow cooker for family meals a real time saver.
o
Christin
Twitter: bluecrabmartini
January 3, 2015 (11:28 am)
Great tips! I’m so ready to get back to healthy living in the new year!
o
Rebecca Smith
Twitter: becc__smith
January 3, 2015 (6:27 pm)
Great tips! I need these since I am starting back work soon. I always start off good then end up messing up. 🙂 Adding you to my readers list.
Rebecca #BLMgirl
http://www.beccsmith.com
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 3, 2015 (6:40 pm)
Thanks Rebecca!
Adanna
Twitter: rattlesandheels
January 3, 2015 (7:41 pm)
These are great tips! I struggle with meal prep, it’s pretty sad.I’m trying to invest sometime into planning before grocery shopping instead of just shopping with no list.
Nicole W.
Twitter: laeblsbynicole
January 3, 2015 (8:17 pm)
These tips are just what I need to aid my health goal.
o
NeoshaGEE
Twitter: NeoshaLatrice
January 3, 2015 (8:18 pm)
Love this! Definitely some helpful tips. I’ll be doing most of these in conjunction for when my son starts eating solids. #BLMgirls
o
Carin Kilby Clark
Twitter: carinkilbyclark
January 3, 2015 (9:00 pm)
Great tips! Definitely on my must-do list this year {eating healthier}. I always get busy and forget to plan it out. I also go hungry a lot which I know I need to stop doing. #BLMGirl
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 3, 2015 (9:22 pm)
Planning is key.
Giselle January 3, 2015 (11:39 pm)
One of my main goals is to start meal prepping again. I’ve done once before and it helped me stay on track and I had absolutely no excuse! Great post 🙂
#BLMGirl
Michellette "Mimi" Green
Twitter: mimicutelips
January 4, 2015 (2:17 am)
Great tips, for some reason I only use my crock pot during the winter. I need to use it year around. I keep saying I want to meal plan but I haven’t gotten there just yet. #blmgirl
o
Jackie Penn
Twitter: JackiePenn18
January 4, 2015 (1:17 pm)
Love these tips! I just recently realized the importance of having snacks at work. I never thought about prepping my snack portions. I’m going to incorporate the ‘prep day’ and the rest of these tips.
Great post!! #BLMGirl
o
Amber
Twitter: AmberE2SYL
January 4, 2015 (8:54 pm)
Love the tip to always keep healthy snacks handy! I always kick myself when I forget to restock and end up out and about hungry. I would add a pursuer cooker, it peepers awesome meals in a fraction of the time.
Caryn Sullivan
Twitter: PrettyWellness
January 5, 2015 (7:30 pm)
HI. I love this post. I’ve found that eating well takes a little bit of studying at first, but then becomes an easy habit within weeks. I now always carry healthy snacks for me and my son. We freeze yogurt tubes for him and carry whole fruits, too. I freeze smoothies and grab them for afternoon snacks.
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 5, 2015 (9:04 pm)
Freezing smoothies sounds like an excellent idea.
o
Mary Beth Jackson
Twitter: tutusandtennies
January 8, 2015 (5:49 am)
I am really good about never leaving home without snacks but my hubby and I need to be better planners- we are working on it but we still have room for improvement! Great post!
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
January 8, 2015 (7:34 am)
Im starting to go to sites like Urban Remedy to see what healthy snacks they include in their packages.
GiGi Eats
Twitter: dubagee
May 3, 2016 (8:58 am)
My go-to quickies are all in the freezer and take 20 minutes to cook in the oven, then down the hatch they go 🙂
o
Diatta
Twitter: DSTPRL
May 4, 2016 (5:10 am)
I know that’s right!
Natalie
Twitter: AFitPhilosophy
May 3, 2016 (11:34 pm)
These are great tips! I totally have to have a prep day!
Markita
Twitter: sweshfit
May 4, 2016 (10:51 pm)
Ugh I’ve done all of these and I still can’t get it together! Really good tips but it’s still a struggle over here that always results in takeout, food spoilage, and sleeping off hunger lol
5 Tips for Healthy Meals for a Busy Lifestyle – Femme Fitale Fit Club ® Blog September 13, 2016 (7:08 am)
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