Sarah Peters is a registered dietition. She also loves her dog and shopping for handbags.
Eating healthy can seem almost impossible in our quick-paced world today where the need for convenience is high. But these pre-packaged, high-calorie foods aren’t always the best choice. Eating healthy can actually give you more energy, boost your mood, and leave your body in overall good health. Below are five steps to consider when attempting to eat healthy on the go.
- Plan meals and snacks ahead of time. This means having healthy foods available on-hand such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, low-fat dairy, whole grains, beans, and so forth. Variety is key. For me, I pack my lunch the night before since mornings always tend to be hectic! Worried about hogging the office refrigerator? Don’t be. That’s where re-freezable ice cubes come into play. Simply freeze the ice cubes overnight and throw them into your lunchbox the next day for a cool and fulfilling lunch.
- Stay hydrated. Not only does dehydration cause tiredness, lack of energy, and headaches but people often mistake thirst for hunger. Having a water bottle or thermos with you at work encourages water consumption. For all those caffeine-drinkers out there, including me, additional water consumption is necessary due to the fact that caffeine actually causes the body to lose water. The rule of thumb is to drink eight 8-ounce cups of water each day or 64 ounces total.
- Watch portion sizes especially when dining out. You might be surprised at how much you are actually eating! Some people find using smaller plates helps to decrease portion sizes while others prefer to use visual cues (i.e. a serving size of meat should resemble that of a deck of cards). Whatever works for you!
- Lastly, I can’t stress enough the importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into as many meals and snacks as you can each day. They are a low-calorie, nutrient dense food with many health benefits. Not keen on the taste of fruits or vegetables? Throw them into casseroles/sauces or eat them with dip. Be creative!
