One of the biggest factors that inhibits consistent healthy eating is a lack of food preparation. If you are out the door to work 5 days a week and you are not bringing lunch, your chances of consuming a well-balanced meal are greatly decreased. During the workday it’s important to stay fueled and focused so you can produce quality work and maintain your health.
Here are a 4 tips for staying on track during a busy workweek:
1. Make Meal Prep Worthwhile
Meal prep is essential to keeping your health goals on track. While it might not be realistic to spend all Sunday afternoon prepping for the week, make extras during your nightly meals so that you can utilize leftovers.
Another helpful tip is to cook separate elements (a pot of grains, a tray of mixed roasted veggies, and a protein) that way you can mix and match them throughout the week and just get creative with sauces and condiments. Here’s a link to some healthy homemade condiments.
2. Keep It Simple
Trying to prepare an elaborate meal at 9pm for the next day just isn’t practical. Also, you want to focus your energy on meals that travel well, and consider whether you have access to a fridge. Try grain salads in a jar, soup in a thermos, wraps, and sandwiches. Bean, chicken, tuna, and egg salads also travel well!
3. Pack Healthy Snacks and Graze
Sometimes when I just don’t have anything solid prepped I rely on snacks. Most of the time this is how I manage my work days! The key is choosing the right snacks that not only satiate you, but are easy and delicious. You can actually get a lot of nutrients in through hearty snacks.
Here are some great snack ideas:
- Dips or spreads with veggies or crackers (try this delicious cauliflower hummus recipe)
- Protein bars
- Nut and seed trail mixes
- Fruit and yogurt parfaits
- Roasted chickpeas
- Apple and nut butter
- Homemade granola bars, or muffins (like these Coconut Almond Bars)
4. Find a Happy Balance
Sometimes it’s nice to eat out and treat yourself. When you do enjoy a meal out, try to keep it as minimally processed as possible. There are so many hidden ingredients in foods that we don’t prepare on our own so beware. Sushi or Thai is one of my go-to on the go meals. I love the freshness of sushi and the satisfying spices and flavours of Thai.
Now that more restaurants are adding available nutritional information, you can see what’s in your meals. Just as I suggest checking labels on foods in stores. With a little research you can make the best informed decisions while still enjoying a stress-free meal out!
What are some ways you find a healthy food balance during your busy work week? What are some of your favourite meal prep recipes?
Our Power Up Mission is simply to educate our customers on the importance of using quality food as fuel. For all your Power Up news make sure you check out Vince’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Also make sure to follow @VincesMarket and #powerupwithvinces, sign up for our Power Up Newsletter and keep an eye out for nutrition tips and tricks from me, our in-house nutrition expert!
To our health & wellbeing,
Danielle
