Juggling between your personal life and professional career or school can be challenging. Just imagine getting all your responsibilities done, such as studying for exams, or working two shifts in a row while trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well. We have put together a Guide to Healthy Eating
Not reaching out for a chocolate bar or a slice of pizza when you are multitasking and trying to meet your deadlines and have a social life can be really tough sometimes.
So, how to keep a healthy diet when things get hectic?
Follow these tips to stick to healthy eating even when you work long hours and life with its never-ending surprises comes in the way.
Plan Your Meals Ahead
Before you hit the store to do your grocery shopping, create a shopping list.
Make sure to put some nourishing, whole foods on the list. This way you will avoid buying junk food and save money by avoiding unplanned items. Like any expense, it might be beneficial to factor this into a monthly budget template due to the unfortunate fact that eating healthy is more expensive than eating junk food
We all spend countless hours browsing through numerous delicious and mouth-watering recipes on social media. Check out your Instagram or Pinterest board for healthy recipe inspiration too.
This will help you come up with a nutritious menu for the week and stick to the ingredients you need when doing your shopping.
Opt for Natural Options
This is crucial – whenever you are choosing your meal, ditch processed foods and choose wholefood options.
Instead of snacking on a bag of Cheetos, eat a handful of nuts. When you feel that stubborn sugar craving, don’t grab an ice cream. Go for a couple of dates instead.
If you succeed in making this shift you are sure to provide your body with premium fuel and sustain a healthy diet in the long run.
Whole foods are more nutritious, fiber-rich and will keep you healthy and energized.
Veggifying your lunch is a trick to incorporate more veggies into your menu. Eating a chicken salad instead of a sandwich is an effortless way of squeezing in essential nutrients.
Prepare Meals for the Week Ahead
Who hasn’t made a poor decision in a moment of hunger?
Having nourishing meals sitting in your fridge will stop you from living on a diet of sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas.
It is much, much easier to stay on track with your goals when you prepare healthy meals in advance. They should include lean protein, complex carbs, healthy fat, fruit, and veggies.
Making healthy snacks like homemade protein bars will prevent you from slipping into the vicious circle of gorging on junk food and sugary desserts.
Eat More Fatty Fish
To keep your heart healthy and strong try to include two servings of fatty fish in your weekly menu. Salmon, herring, trout or sardines are all high in omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Since fish can be quite expensive, and these healthy fats are vital for good health, taking omega-3 supplements daily will help you reduce inflammation and prevent various diseases.
If You Have a Sweet Tooth
If you get persistent sugar cravings you can’t ignore, there is a way around it. Ditch the candies and cookies and enjoy an afternoon treat that is tasty and nourishing at the same time.
Dark chocolate truffles or ¼ cup dried fruits and nuts are healthy ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Just be careful about the portion sizes.
Eat Clean While Eating Out
You will find yourself in a situation where eating out will be a necessity whether it is a work-related event or your friend’s birthday. What to do then?
Ask the staff about healthier options on the menu, and if there are none then ask them if they can make some of the available meals cleaner by leaving out a salad dressing for instance, or combining a salad with some other dish.
Also, learn to say no to temptations that are not going to help you on your journey. Holidays and office birthday parties will be challenging and you will feel pressure from time to time but stay determined and keep your goals in mind.
Cut Yourself Some Slack
To maintain a healthy diet you can enjoy a meal out or a sweet treat from time to time. A cheat meal can be a good way to avoid feeling deprived and frustrated.
Limit yourself to one meal – one pancake or one burger and keep up with your clean diet. If one cheat meal will make you fall off the wagon and lead to days of uncontrollable binging, then this occasional indulgence is probably not the best idea for you.
The journey to getting healthy is packed with challenges. Old habits are hard to break sometimes and you will probably be surrounded by temptations often enough to test your willpower.
Remember that even small changes can make a huge difference on the scales and in your overall health. It takes some time, work and persistence to build a healthy lifestyle but it pays off in more energy and overall well being.