How to Eat Healthy When Short on Time
Let’s face it, we live in a world that makes eating healthy pretty difficult at times. It’s getting better, but it still takes a little effort to get it right on a busy day.
The biggest problem is that we’re surrounded by quick fixes and tempting fast food value meals. No matter where you live, these are typically easier to find than anything healthy. And a trip to the convenience store is only going to make matters worse.
If you want to eat healthy when you’re strapped for time, you need to do a little more thinking. The more you plan ahead, the better, and there are more healthy options out there than you may realize.
To get it right, here are 5 strategies for eating healthy when you’re short on time.
5 Strategies for Eating Healthy When Short on Time
1. Prepare Ahead of Time – This is the easiest solution to being short on time, but unfortunately, it requires some planning (and some extra time the night before). If you can, prepare your meals and snacks at home in advance. Doing so allows you to make healthy decisions and know exactly what you’re getting with every bite. For some healthy snack ideas that you can easily take with you, check out my Low Calorie Snacks here.
2. Have a Salad – Making healthy meals doesn’t have to take up a lot of time. In fact, if you have the right ingredients in your kitchen, there are some really fast options out there that require very minimal cooking. One of my go-to meals when I’m short on time is a salad. There’s a lot you can do with a salad, and it’s an easy way to top up your nutritional intake for the day. For some satisfying, healthy salad options, take a look at my Top 5 Healthy Salad Recipes here.
3. Don’t Ignore the Prepared Food Section – It’s not all good, but there are definitely some healthy options for meals and snacks in the prepared food section and deli of your local supermarket. Some of the salads are packed full of healthy ingredients (mixed bean salad, for example), and options like hummus and olives can make for some great, healthy snacks.
4. Wrap It Up – When you’re short on time, even making a sandwich can seem impossible. But I’ve found an easy solution – use a wrap. Not only do they cut down on prep time, they’re easier to take with you and they’re lower on carbs compared to bread. With just a few healthy ingredients, you can easily prepare a mid-afternoon snack or an expedited dinner.
5. Have a Smoothie – This is definitely my go-to meal when I’m short on time. It gets a little more difficult to find healthy options when you’re on the go, as many smoothies that look healthy are actually packed with sugar. But if you do a little investigating and find the right place, you can definitely keep your calorie intake in check.
But at home, smoothies and protein shakes are affordable and healthy meal replacements when you’re strapped for time. I always have on hand some almond milk, a variety of frozen fruits, and a basic, high-quality protein supplement, like Optimum 100% Natural Whey. If you’re vegan, try Vega Sport Performance Protein, it’s another one of my favorites. For some great, healthy smoothie recipes, check out my article, Protein Smoothie: Top 5 Recipes.
Remember, healthy options are always available, no matter how short on time!
Have any questions or feedback about eating healthy when short on time? Please leave a comment below…
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Thank you for visiting! Weight Loss and Training is a health blog which features all the best weight loss tips that I have learned over my 20 years of training. My background includes a degree in Kinesiology from the world renown Simon Fraser University, certification in nutritional sciences from UBC, and Personal Trainer Specialist certification from Can Fit Pro.