Keep Your Health On While Out and About

As we embark on this school year, are you bombarded by thoughts of how to keep up good health

and have more energy with your crazy busy schedule?

For many, being super busy makes eating healthy a real challenge.  Too many clients tell me that they just don’t have the time to eat healthy. Quick and convenient foods end up taking the place of healthy, nourishing options when we are on the go all the time. These less than ideal choices turn out to feed us low energy, weight gain and potential health issues.

Guess what?  It doesn’t have to be this way!

You do not have to resort to fast foods or processed foods due to your schedule.

It is possible to eat healthy, even with a jam-packed schedule. It just requires a little bit of pre-planning to create success.  You will feel better, have more energy, and possibly a smaller waist-line.

When you start fueling your body with healthier choices, you may find that you don’t have that afternoon slump or need another caffeine boost. (These are added benefits my clients have experienced, and they’re always pleasantly surprised).

Eating Healthy When You’re Not Home

There are plenty of circumstances that will take you away from home, and make it more challenging to eat healthy food. Take the time to plan ahead and you can relax knowing that you won’t be derailing your healthy living efforts by consuming empty calories that only make you hungry again a short time later.

Errands and Children’s Activities

Most of us spend several hours in our vehicles every week running errands, stuck in traffic or shuttling kids back and forth between activities. If we don’t plan ahead, it is easy to fall into the trap of stopping by the closest drive through when you (or your family) are hungry.

Don’t wait until you’re starving to make food choices.  This will almost always lead to bad decisions. Instead, plan ahead, so you don’t have to rely on your willpower alone to keep you on track. Pack easy to carry healthy snacks, and keep them in either your purse or your vehicle (in a cooler if needed). This way you always have healthy choices right at your fingertips.

Road Trips

Being away for the weekend or on vacation, doesn’t mean you should take a total hiatus from your health goals. You can still live a healthy lifestyle on road trips by packing healthy foods to eat in the car. You can pack a cooler to keep handy so you have easy access to snacks while on the road. If you’re planning on stopping along the way, pack a nutritious picnic lunch to eat before you head back out on your trip.

Foods That Are Easy to Pack

The following items are all easy to prepare, and convenient to take on the go.  Experiment and find out which snacks best fit your preference and lifestyle. Mix and match options to see what works for you.  Be sure to keep any perishable foods in a cooler or use an ice pack.

  • Sliced carrot and cucumber with hummus
  • Sliced or whole apples with nut butter or sun butter
  • Clementine or mandarin oranges
  • Grapes
  • Sliced or whole pears
  • Smoothie (try to drink within 30 mins)
  • Nuts and raisins (make your own trail mix)
  • Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
  • Whole Food Snack Bars (such as Larabar)
  • Energy balls (raw or baked)
  • Sandwiches or wraps
  • String cheese or cheese cubes
  • Cut-up rotisserie chicken (keep cool with an ice pack)
  • Hard boiled eggs

Use Your Technology

Almost everyone now carries a smartphone, which you can use to your advantage. Keep your food choices healthy when you’re on the go by utilizing apps that make healthy living easier.

It can sometimes be a challenge to find restaurants that serve gluten-free meals.  My favorite gluten-free app is called “Find Me Gluten Free”.  This helps find restaurants with gluten-free offerings in your vicinity. My family uses this all the time!

“HappyCow Vegan / Vegetarian Restaurant Guide” is the App Store’s #1 Vegetarian and vegan restaurant guide.  You can find a local restaurant or cafe anywhere in the world and search their reviews.

Download an app to find restaurant meals that fit your needs.

Make Weekly Meals Easy

Just because you had a busy day doesn’t mean you have to resort to fast food or processed foods for dinner. With a little forethought, you can make sure your family has healthy meals ready to go when you walk in the door. Stir-fry dinners are quick and easy and a great way to get a load of veggies on your plate.

With sites like Pinterest, you now have tons of healthy crockpot meal ideas available for free. Do a quick search and see what recipes may interest you and your family. If you prep everything the night before, or even earlier in the morning, you can come home to a delicious home-cooked meal that is ready to serve.

Other helpful websites for recipe ideas are Allrecipes.com and Myrecipes.com

Even better:  Batch cook your meals. When you have time to cook, simply double the recipe and set the extras aside to use later in the week for a particularly busy day. It takes a little extra effort to double the recipe, and you will reap the benefits by saving time later in the week. I like to double my recipes and freeze one for later.  On our busy days, I just pull out a frozen meal in the morning. Then, when we arrive home that evening dinner is quick and easy!  With very little preparation, we have a delicious, nutritious dinner and everyone is happy!

Now there are also lots of food services like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron.  These services send healthy meals in a box straight to your door.  They include recipes, along with the exact amount of fresh ingredients you need to prepare the meal.  Pretty simple.

Healthy Eating Strategies Can Work for You

Even with a busy schedule, you can still make sure that you are eating healthy, nutritious meals. By putting in a little bit of planning, you can ensure that you and your family enjoy healthy foods that support your lifestyle and your goals.

You can do this!  Let me know if I can help.

Contact me at jennifermarckshealthcoach@outlook.com to chat! I would love to help you come up with strategies to keep you on your road to healthy eating!

This information is provided for educational and informational purposes only, to educate you about gluten-free living and as a self-help tool for your own use. It is not meant to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure. Use this information at your own risk based on your own judgment. Always seek the advice of your own Medical Provider regarding any questions or concerns you have about your specific health or any medications. This information is not allowed to be reproduced, replicated, or sold.

Stop Hidden gluten for good
Jennifer gluten-free living

Hello, I'm Jennifer

Health Coach, Wellness Cooking Instructor, Blogger, Busy Celiac Mom and Educator of Gluten-Free Wellness,

teaching you that living gluten-free doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming!

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