Success—most, if not all, of us want to achieve it. The desire to achieve success is something we have been taught since childhood, but because of that drive, we sometimes forget to do the simple things, like sleep and eat properly. In order to better prepare balanced meals and prepare yourself for a busy day, it is important to follow these helpful tips.
1. Plan Ahead
When busy and searching for food, it’s important to avoid the many bad choices available, like burritos, chips, and sugary drinks (i.e. fraps, soda, energy drinks). Being busy doesn’t mean that your health should suffer, that’s why proper planning will not only save you more time throughout the day but also money. After all, you’re busy and your time is valuable—don’t waste it searching for the “quick fix” fast-food restaurant (usually, they’re not that fast anyway). The night before your busy day, take about an hour to pack a simple snack or meal. Healthy choices would be fruit, lettuce wraps with deli meat, and some veggie sticks (i.e. carrot or celery) for easy snacking.
2. Use Meal Replacements
Sometimes, you’re so busy that you don’t even have time to chew food! No one ever said your food couldn’t be liquid (as long as it’s not liquor). Protein shakes and other meal replacement beverages are great alternatives to actual food. Not only do they provide a great source of fiber and protein, but it’s also very convenient to just carry a cup or sports bottle with you. For balance, attempt to have breakfast, lunch (possibly a meal replacement drink), and dinner, with a healthy snack in between each.
3. Cook Meals in Bulk
When you are juggling multiple things like a family, career, and hobbies, choosing to make your meals in bulk will be one of the best decisions you’ll make! One of the easiest meals you can make is a big batch of baked chicken (if you’re too busy to look after it, you can put it in slow cooker and let it do all the work for you). Another easy recipe is shredded barbecue chicken—all you’ll need is chicken breast, your fave BBQ sauce, some vinegar, a slow cooker, salt and pepper, and bam! Of course, you can simply turn the slow cooker on low (8 to 10 hours to cook) and go on with your day! You can steam veggies in bulk as well. Here’s another great tip: invest in some good-quality storage containers in order eat these dishes a few days in a row.
4. Remember: Veggies are Everything
Vegetables are some of the best foods for people on the go—they are healthy and they are usually easy to carry around. Carrots, celery, and snap peas are all great veggies to keep handy when you’re working overtime or trying to meet a deadline. Place them in a sandwich baggie and pack them away. Bring along a dip like hummus for some extra flavour. Veggies keep you alert and ready for the day, so having them throughout the day helps keep you energized and ready for anything.
5. Make time for yourself!
Sometimes, you are so busy that you don’t even take time for yourself, but taking a break every now and again is a good thing. Taking the time to truly enjoy the pleasures of life will not only help you mentally, but it will also give you more time to pursue your passions. The best balanced meal is a meal of balance—sitting around family and friends, enjoying good food and each other’s company. After all, you should never get too busy with making a living that you forget to live!
Featured photo credit: Ed Gregory via stokpic.com
