How to Eat Healthy with a Busy Schedule

If your day planner is as busy as Grand Central Station at rush hour, you may want or need a healthy “pick me up,” instead of a heavy, calorie-packed burger and fries. Low-fat, highly nutritious foods won’t weigh you down. The steps below will help you eat healthy even with a busy schedule.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Your favorite pieces of fruit
• Low-fat snacks
• A supply of bottled water
• Yogurt
• Raw vegetables
• Low-fat dipping sauces
• Sandwich bags

1. Keep a bag of your favorite fruits available at all times. Pick them up when you are about to run out of the house to go to work or a meeting. Fruit is also easy to store. You can chop it into small bite size pieces and toss them in a sandwich bag the night before.
2. Toss a pack on low-fat flavorful crackers in your purse or book bag. Crackers tend to be filling and will keep you from overindulging in a bag of salty, fattening potato chips. Pretzels are also a great low-fat snack.
3. Drink plenty of water. Water is not only refreshing, but it is also essential to our lives. So grab a bottle and hydrate!
4. Manage your eating time. It can be easy to forget to eat. When you remember, you are famished and run to the most readily available meal, which is usually fast food. Try snacking on healthy alternatives periodically throughout the day. This will keep your hunger levels down to a minimum.
5. Balance healthy meals on a go.
   
   Try a cup of yogurt or a bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Add a spoonful of nuts and raisins. Have a few pieces of fruit. For lunch have a huge salad loaded with raw veggies and low-fat salad dressing. Top your salad with grilled seafood or chicken. If salads are to involved, try a spinach wrap or whole wheat sandwich.

Tips & Warnings

• A great way to keep apples from browning after cutting them is by sprinkling lemon juice or lime juice over them. This also gives apples a delicious new taste!
• A fruit basket is your friend. If you don’t own one, pick one up at your local store. They are great! Fill it with color fruits and vegetables.
• Step away from the plate! If you have the urge to eat the greasiest thing on the menu, try to eat only 75, especially if you are already full.
• Stay away from the vending machines! Vending machines are usually filled with sugary, sweet candies and sodium filled potato chips. If you have to eat from one, pick pretzels or trail mix.