There’s really no way around it. If we want to eat well, we need to prepare to eat well. Therein lies the challenge.
How many times have you started a new way of eating? You’re gung-ho, spend time prepping your meals and snacks. Maybe you buy a new blender or food processor because this time is going to be different!! All is well – for about 2 weeks.
Then, the kids have hockey, your meeting runs late at work, you forget to stop at the grocery store, and before you know it, Milano’s is back on speed dial. (That’s not just me, right?)
So, what are we to do?
The first thing that we need to realize is this:
Healthy food is not complicated. It’s not elaborate or fancy.
Seriously. So often, we get caught up in trying to make over the top meals and snacks, food that is magazine or Martha Stewart worthy. Let’s get real. What our focus really needs to be on is this: EATING REAL FOOD. Period.
If your grandmother wouldn’t recognize it as food, toss it.
We can go a long way to bettering our health, simply by reducing the amount of packaged and processed foods we’re eating.
Some easy snack ideas, that don’t take a long time to prepare, are:
- An apple with nut butter
- Hard boiled eggs
- Mary’s crackers with hummus
- Veggies and hummus
- A handful of nuts or seeds with a fruit or vegetable of your choice
- A smoothie made with squeaky clean protein powder and real food
- A small salad topped with cheese and nuts
- Roasted chickpeas
- Kale chips
- An avocado with salsa
- Leftovers from dinner such as: ½ chicken breast, quinoa salad, or a bowl of chili
The real trick is to avoid those empty, sugary calories.
You know, the muffins and bagels that are so easy to grab, the crackers and chips that call to you from the cupboard, the energy drinks and specialty coffees.
When in doubt, eat protein with healthy fats and some fresh fruits or vegetables. The protein and fat will keep you feeling full for a longer period of time and it will reduce your cravings for empty carbohydrates. You’ll avoid the sugar crash. You know, the one that has you stopping for a bag of chips on the way home from work? The one that you’re beating yourself up over before you get in the door.
See? I’ve been there. I know.
