How to Eat Healthy on a Busy Schedule

Sometimes, eating healthy is difficult when we’re constantly busy and on the go. Grabbing a snack loaded with sugar on your way to work or ordering a large, greasy pizza for supper feels easier and more convenient than taking a moment to prepare something nutritious.

And yet, we all know that healthy meals and snacks are essential to our well-being. So, what’s the solution? Since you can’t decide to be less busy, learn to eat healthy on a busy schedule.

Prepare your meals ahead of time

We all know it’s a good idea to prepare our meals ahead of time. But how can we do that, exactly? 

You could take a few minutes to make a meal plan for the week ahead. Decide what you want to eat and when. Please write it down on a calendar or in a planner. Add the ingredients you’ll need to your shopping list. Resist the temptation to buy unhealthy processed foods at the grocery store.

Try batch cooking

Consider batch cooking. This involves cooking food in large quantities, so you don’t have to cook daily. You can then enjoy leftovers for a few days or freeze single portions to eat them later. If this sounds good but needs to be simplified, spend 10 minutes each evening preparing food for the next day.

Decide what you’ll eat for breakfast and prepare what you can in advance. You can also portion some leftovers and cut a few veggies so you can have a delicious lunch at work. It might not seem like much, but even just 10 minutes of meal prep will help you make healthier choices the following day.

Prepare and portion healthy snacks as well

Having healthy snacks close at hand is necessary, especially if you don’t work at home. If you have nothing healthy to eat at your desk, you’ll buy a candy bar or another sugar-filled snack whenever you get hungry.

So, fill your pantry and fridge with healthy snacks such as nuts, fresh fruits and veggies, yogurt, and granola bars.

Subscribe to a meal prep delivery service

If you’re so busy you don’t have time to cook, let someone else cook for you. Sure, you could hire a private chef if you can afford it. But you could also subscribe to a meal prep delivery service in your area to get healthy meals that only need reheated in the microwave and delivered to your door.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water

Remember to drink healthy as you figure out how to eat healthy on a busy schedule. Although sugary coffee and fruit juices taste great, they’re not good for your health if you drink them regularly.

Instead, reach for a glass of water. Staying hydrated throughout the day will help you feel more energized and reduce your cravings for unhealthy snacks.

Stock your kitchen with convenient ingredients

You can buy all the ingredients you need to cook healthy meals when shopping, but keeping your kitchen stocked with convenient ingredients is also a good idea.

Think about frozen fruits, veggies, canned legumes, jarred pasta sauce, and instant rice. All of these will help you save some precious time whenever you want to do some meal prep.

Read labels at the grocery store

Take just a few seconds to read labels at the grocery store. If you hesitate between two types of granola bars or two different brands of yogurt, knowing how much sugar and protein each option contains will help you make healthier choices.

Prepare slow cooker recipes

Cooking delicious, healthy meals can be time-consuming. But if you use a slow cooker, your meals can cook slowly all day while you’re at work and be warm and ready to eat when you come home.

If you need a slow cooker, get one. Then, look up some simple slow cooker recipes, prep your ingredients at the start of the day, place them in your slow cooker, and let it work its magic.

Make healthy choices at the restaurant

Committing to eating healthy on a busy schedule means you can return to the restaurant. However, remember that making healthier choices is possible, such as choosing a salad instead of fries and asking for the dressing to be served on the side.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with indulging in a great dessert when you eat out. As long as you don’t do it too often, eating a big piece of chocolate cake will not eradicate all of your efforts to eat healthy. It will only bring you joy.