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With many people returning to offices and other workplaces, eating healthy consistently has become difficult. This concern has been highlighted by Canadian and US veterinary students in one study, which you can read here. As many as 92% of respondents said that a “busy lifestyle” hindered them from changing their eating habits. There is also a constant temptation to order food, which, more often than not, is fast food high in carbohydrates and fats.
Although it doesn’t seem feasible to eat healthy with a hectic schedule, there are some shortcuts you can take to make cooking convenient. Below, we’ll visit some ways to eat healthy despite a busy lifestyle.
Use convenience products
While eating fresh foods is better, it’s much more difficult and time-consuming to prepare than store-bought foods. It isn't bad to avail healthier, ready-to-use products if they aren’t loaded with preservatives, sugar, or fats and paired with other healthy options. For instance, instead of buying veggies you have to chop, choose pre-cut frozen veggies. As we shared in our recipe here, our Nafsika’s Garden Parmesan/Mozzarella Style Cheese Shreds can significantly save you time from grating the cheese by hand.
Using quick-cooking equipment
Two of the most time-consuming processes are ingredient preparation and cooking, so it’s wise to invest in equipment that can save you time. To cut down on ingredient preparation, a food chopper can whiz through anything you need to dice or mince, from mushrooms to onions. The Kuhn Rikon Pull Chop 2 is highly recommended as it gets the job done quickly with little setup time. Read more about the best food choppers on the market. While some cooking methods require constant attention, like frying, some things can be done automatically by equipment. Rice cookers are a great example of this, as these often come with multi-cook features which you can set. The Cuckoo CRP-P0609S model is one of the most versatile, as it also comes with an aluminum steam tray— allowing you to cook rice and heat your meat or steam your vegetables simultaneously. Click here to learn more about rice cooker options. When buying any kitchen equipment, consider it an investment. It's okay to splurge a bit on something you'll use for years.
Do meal prep
The best way to save time during a busy week is to prep meals ahead. Overall, it’s faster to have food ready to heat up for eating, so we recommend considering batch cooking and preparing individually portioned meals. Batch cooking calls for cooking a big portion of the same meal, then splitting it into individual pieces to be frozen and enjoyed in the future. For instance, you can prepare a big pot of soup, portion it, freeze it, then heat it up for an easy, hearty add-on to all your meals. Plus, these portions are great in case you need a quick breakfast or lunch to take on the go. Meal prepping is especially helpful if you want to stick to a calorie deficit, as it minimizes the need to eat out as well.
Prepare healthier snacks
While snacks can’t replace a whole meal, they can be an excellent way to energize yourself when you're on the go. This article recommends ready-to-eat healthy snacks for adults, such as hard-boiled eggs, vegetables, ad hummus. Aside from those snacks, it’s good to have easy-to-make, filling snack ideas such as partnering fruit with yogurt. These will feel more satisfying upon eating. Eating healthy can be a challenge with a busy schedule. But with the right approach, you can reap the benefits of nutritious food without spending too much time cooking.
Article written by Reggie Grace
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