Healthy eating on the go
Healthy eating on the go:
Healthy eating on the go If you want to stay healthy and fit, the food you eat makes all the difference. When you’re on the go, though, preparing healthy meals can be difficult—which is why so many people end up eating things like fast food or candy bars at their desks during lunch break.
To make sure that you’re staying healthy and fit even when you don’t have time to cook, take a look at these tips on how to eat healthy on the go.
Eat an apple
If you’re craving a snack and don’t have anything healthy in your bag, try an apple. Apples have fiber, a little natural sugar, and they fill you up with very few calories.
They also keep your hands busy so you’re not noshing mindlessly on whatever else is around (like those tempting pastries in your office kitchen).
And unlike chocolate bars or potato chips, apples require some chewing. Eating slowly has been shown to help curb overeating. This way you give your body time to realize when it’s full and adjust its internal calorie sensor.
Pack your snacks
In a Healthy eating on the go there’s no avoiding it: If you want to avoid reaching for fast food or vending machine fare, you have to come prepared. And that means filling your bag with healthy snacks that will tide you over until your next meal.
For a convenient yet nutritious snack, try some of these ideas nuts and dried fruit; hard-boiled eggs; whole-grain crackers with peanut butter; a whole-wheat pita stuffed with veggies and hummus; an apple and string cheese.
By keeping healthy snacks in your car, at work, and in your purse or backpack, you can prevent yourself from making poor choices when hunger strikes.
Bring your own lunch
Taking your lunch with you instead of buying something at a fast food joint has a number of benefits. Firstly, you get to control exactly what goes into your food, and also save yourself some cash by not having to buy lunch out all week.
Secondly, you’ll be eating better (maybe losing weight in the process) since dining out is generally more unhealthy than cooking at home.
Thirdly, preparing and taking your own lunch will force you out of your office and into another part of campus for 20 minutes each day which can help break up that monotony at work.
Oh, and four: When you bring your own meal with you on Monday, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t repeat that decision again Thursday…and every other day as well!
Explore new places for lunch
You can’t always rely on bringing your own lunch to work, and while fast food isn’t always unhealthy, that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
Grabbing a quick meal from a restaurant can be just as healthy—or unhealthy—as whatever you’d bring from home. The only way to make sure what you’re ordering is healthy is by picking something up off of their fresh menu rather than their typical offerings.
It’s easier than you think, and your taste buds won’t even notice! (You won’t miss all that extra sodium.) If there aren’t any restaurants near you with a fresh menu, order something like chicken or fish instead of burgers or fries. And if they have grilled options, try those over fried ones! Your body will thank you later.
Get out of the office for dinner
We’re conditioned to believe that dinner has to be eaten at home or a restaurant, but there are plenty of other options.
Treat yourself (and your body) by eating out once in a while: grab lunch from a food truck, picnic at one of your favorite restaurants, or enjoy dinner at a friend’s house.
If you keep your eyes open for tasty and convenient options, you can save money, eat better and feel less guilty about what you’re putting into your body.
You might even meet some new people! Who knows? Maybe they’ll end up being clients or colleagues down the road. After all, business is all about who you know—so don’t forget to cultivate those relationships! Just remember not to burn bridges:
Think twice before accepting a meal with a competitor; if your boss invites you over for dinner and doesn’t offer to pay, just politely decline; and never make an impression by freeloading off friends’ plates when they’re footing the bill.
In fact, most manners experts say it’s rude to accept more than one meal per week from someone who isn’t a family member or close friend—especially if they’re not aware of how much you earn or how much their meal costs.
Take care when ordering from restaurants
There are two simple words you should keep in mind when you’re out and about: eat early. You can cut way down on your calorie intake by ordering from a restaurant’s early bird menu—these special menus are typically available for several hours between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., or 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., which is when calories tend to be highest for most people at lunch or dinner (and alcohol tends to impair judgment).
Plus, many restaurants serve full meals during those time periods—so in addition to cutting calories, you’ll likely get plenty of fiber and nutrients that help keep your heart healthy as well!
