You want to eat clean, you want to eat healthy, but you’re so busy it all feels very overwhelming, right? First of all, know that you are not alone. I have had countless clients come to me lamenting the fact that they want to eat well, but they find it challenging because they are so busy. I feel the same way. Sometimes I feel it so much a just get mad!
I’ve learned to channel my anger and use it to find ways to eat clean because it makes me feel GREAT! The payoff is so worth it. Every time I say “screw it, I’m just going to eat (whatever),” I regret it. So, I’ve realized that despite my busyness, eating well is a value that is much more important.
So, my question to you is: Are you going to let being busy stop you from feeling energetic, confident and just plain downright spunky?? I hope your answer is a loud and boisterous “NO!”
If so, I have some tips for you on what you can eat to stay healthy when you are busy!
Smoothies
A smoothie is one of the fastest breakfasts that you can make, and it’s also an excellent snack if needed. Pour a cup and a half of coconut water or milk, almond milk or hemp milk into the blender. Throw in your fruit AND a handful of veggies (spinach, cucumber, romaine lettuce, just to name a few). Add protein if you like (hemp seed or chia seed, or maybe a scoop of hemp, grass-fed whey (if you are okay with dairy) or pea protein powder). Next add healthy fats (1/2 avocado, coconut milk or oil or the proteins I mentioned before which also have you covered on the healthy fat front!). For extra flavor, add some vanilla extract or dash of cinnamon or a substitute sweetener like stevia.
TIP: Many people I know will bring a small blender and make sure they have a small refrigerator in their hotel room so they can make their own smoothies on the road.
Salads
Chop up a bunch of lettuce (use kitchen scissors, it’s really quick!) – romaine or red leaf – and add some spinach. Pile on some other veggies – tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, sliced beets, bell peppers, onions – whatever you like. Add some protein. Choose pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cooked organic chicken breast, kidney beans, sprouts, a hard-boiled egg, or salmon (wild-caught). Make a quick dressing with stone-ground mustard, olive oil, and a couple of sprays of Bragg’s Liquid Aminos or juice from ½ a lemon. Toss it all together and eat. If you chop the veggies in bulk, you can make a couple of salads at a time. Don’t add the dressing to them yet, and they usually will last a couple of days.
Tip: Save your large glass jars and use them for your salads if you take them to work or on the road with you. Glass is better than plastic for storage.
Know where you can get healthy take-out
Explore your neighborhood, search for healthy take-out restaurants on the internet and look for them on Yelp. Look for restaurants that advertise organic and locally-sourced produce, organic chicken, and free-range grass-fed beef and bison.
And yes, healthy take-out is not always as inexpensive as buying and preparing it yourself. However, if you are a busy person (OR you just don’t enjoy cooking) and would just spend the money on junky fast food or pizza delivery, then this is a much better value for you.
It’s the small habits that add up to make a big difference in your energy level, weight loss progress, and strength. It’s not about being perfect or feeling guilty or wrong if you don’t eat healthy; no judgment here! I’d love to hear from you: what do you like to eat when you are very busy? Write your comment below.
