Too Busy To Be Healthy?

Are you a convenience person?  If you are a parent I am guessing that the answer is definitely yes.  There are some rumors going around that it is not possible to be really busy and still be healthy.  First I want to define what “healthy” means to me.

1. Choosing clean foods: free from artificial ingredients that I have chosen to stay away from.
2. Choosing nutritious foods that help my body function instead of hindering it.
3. Eating often: every 2-3 hours.
4. Drinking lots of pure water: avoiding most other beverages.

What I don’t consider healthy is choosing foods strictly based on calories and what it says on the package.   After studying food labels and advertising laws and all that good stuff, we have come to the conclusion that buyer beware is an understatement.  I want to focus on what is going to make myself and my family be the best we can be each day.  I am not a person that has an easy little life with the luxury of taking hours to prepare and plan perfect little meals with a pretty little red bow on it.  Cooking does not come easy to me so simple is always better.  I have been that person who travels in a car for 6 hours a day as well as the new mom with an explosive business to run.  So I do know busy.  The reason I am really good at healthy on the go is because my daughter and I also can’t tolerate Gluten (wheat) or dairy.  So with all those restrictions I have had to get really creative and it isn’t a choice for me to just forget to pack good food.  Here are a few things that keep me prepared for a mad dash out of the house.

• My favorite cooler: I can pack my cooler complete with ice packs in about 30 seconds… get a cooler that works for you and is a manageable size.
• Water bottle: have 3 of your favorite water bottles clean and in your cupboard so you are never searching as you leave the house.
• Small containers that fit well in your cooler.  Keep lots of them always in the same place in your home in case you are like me and forget to wash things right away.

What do you pack?  Regardless of where you work or what your schedule is pack a cooler every day.  Your body needs food every couple hours whether you are hungry or not.  You will release weight and receive many health benefits by keeping fuel in your body.  You need good food close to you.  This will also keep you from stopping somewhere not so good on your long drive home.  Here are some items I always have in my cooler.  I eat low glycemic foods to keep my blood sugar from rapidly rising through the day; you will be amazed at how you will feel if you implement this.

• Grilled Chicken left over cut into strips so I can easily eat it with one hand
• Raw nuts
• Fruit that is easy to eat or cut it up and put it in your little containers
• Low Glycemic meal replacement shakes that mix with water: choose carefully
• Low Glycemic bars: choose carefully check ingredients: for more on this check out our Free Test Drive of our Healthy Edge Program.
• Fresh Vegetables: I clean them and cut them when I buy them so I can easily pack them.
• GOOD Salads: Salads should be flavorful and make your mouth water: I make one or two different salads each week with tuna or chicken on them and take it with me for lunch in my cooler.  I actually help make a whole book on salad and other healthy cooking recipes a couple of years ago.

These are my basics and I have more exciting stuff I pack depending on what I have cooked for dinner that week. I always cook too much so I always have lots of food.  I am never hungry and I do not deprive myself.  So keep lots of good food close to you at all times to create the convenience that your life demands and you will be shocked at the positive changes you see in your health.