Healthy Eating for Busy People: Easy Ways to Add Fruits and Veggies Every Day
Why Time Matters More Than Willpower
Have you ever been super excited about getting healthy and you have the drive to make the change, but then life hits you?
It happens to all of us. You could be doing great for a week and then life gets super busy with work or unexpected events pop up. All of a sudden the time allotted toward prepping and cooking gets cut in half or even more.
This is probably one of the biggest challenges that I myself face. I mean if you think about it, home cooked meals in the past were mostly made by woman who stayed at home. These days majority of us are working full time jobs, juggling about 50 other things all while trying to get dinner on the table. Which is the reason why going out to eat or ordering take out is often so attractive. Also if you aren’t cooking regularly, going out to eat can sometimes even be a more budget friendly option.
I know that it may feel like the odds are against you, but trust me there’s a way around this. We just need to get creative, think differently, and have a plan so that you can utilize your time efficiently.
Is it a bit challenging at first? Yes, but everything new takes some time to adjust to. Once you get into a routine, you’ll notice that you’re using less energy and things will start to feel a lot easier.
Identifying Your Lifestyle Barriers to Healthy Eating
Let’s get into analyzing your schedule. We are going to be looking to find the time to prep and cook meals.
Here are some questions for you to ask yourself:
- What is your work schedule like? Are you a Monday-Friday? Or is it always changing? When are you the busiest?
If you have the weekends off or are free at that time, then you can utilize those days to prep food for the week.
On the other hand if your schedule is always changing then your days off or free time will be your prep day.
The goal is to have food ready for days that you don’t have time. So look for those little pockets of free time where you can sneak in a little cooking.
- Do you have more energy and time in the morning or in the evening?
If you have more energy and time in the morning then utilize that time to get meals ready for the day. You can prepare and pack lunch and dinner for the day. That way it is easy to just grab and heat up. Just like you would do with take out.
Now if evenings or nights are better, then prep the next day’s breakfast and lunch the night before. This will make it easier in the morning to grab breakfast and pack your lunch.
And if neither of those work with your schedule consider meal prepping for the week on your days off. Or maybe wake up an hour earlier or go to bed a hour later.
It may take a couple of times before figuring out which schedule works best for you. So don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out on the first couple of tries. Keep in mind these are just little guides to help you find your personal Inside Style. Making adjustments and tweaks are encouraged in order to make it work for you.
Making Fruits & Vegetables More Convenient
Freshly cut fruits and vegetables are always the best choice but that doesn’t mean it’s the only one. There are many other options that can help save some prep time.
Here are a few things to look for the next time you go grocery shopping.
- Frozen fruits and vegetables.
- Fruits and vegetable that require little to no prep (bananas, apples, oranges, cucumbers, celery, cherry tomatoes)
- Pre-washed leafy greens
- Pre-cut fruits and vegetables
Planning for Success Without Extra Effort
There are 2 ways to help you prep for the week.
- Meal Prep
- This method is where you make your meals ahead of time and place them into containers to store in the fridge for the week. You can prep all your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners or just maybe just dinners. The goal is to prep the meals for when you have the least amount of time to make a home cooked meal.
- Food Prep
- This method is a little different. The idea is to wash, cut, dice, or slice food and store them in the fridge. That way when you make meals throughout the week all the ingredients are ready to be put together. Making cooking or putting a meal together a lot quicker.
Action Step
Look at your schedule. Search for pockets of free time and schedule time to meal prep or a food prep. Then add it to your calendar as this action will help reassure your commitment to this important lifestyle change.
Next give meal prepping a try. Try prepping 1-2 dinners for the week. You can also give food prep a try and slice some onions and dice tomatoes for salads during the week. Maybe even cut up fruits like apples for snacks or wash and store berries for breakfast. Don’t make it too complicated, this is just the beginning. You want to experience the little wins to build the momentum and sustain this new lifestyle.
Now that you have an understanding of how lifestyle and time impacts your diet, you can confidently take that next step to finding your Inside Style. Be sure to check out these other posts to help you on your discovery journey …
Knowing the Right Questions to Ask About Your Eating Habits
Why the Texture of Food Matters – and How to Still Eat More Fruits and Vegetables
Healthy Eating & Heritage: How to Respect Tradition While Eating More Fruits & Vegetables
Effortless Nutrition: How to Eat More Fruits and Veggies Without Breaking the Bank
