How to manage busy mornings and still eat well
Sometimes busy mornings can’t be avoided. But just because you’re rushing out the house, it doesn’t mean your diet has to suffer.
Here’s how to tackle busy mornings and keep your mind and body healthy - with 4 tips to help you eat better when you’re on-the-go.
4 tips to help you eat healthy when you’re crazy busy
1.Plan your calendar
If you know in advance when you’re going to be busy, put the key dates in your calendar to help you plan your meals ahead of time. Whether you’re starting a new project at work, it’s exam season, or your children are heading back to school, plan your calendar so you can prepare for stressful times ahead.
Block out time in your schedule for key food prep tasks, including:
- Grocery shopping
- Meal prep
- Cooking meals
- Freezing and storing food
-
Defrosting
If you know the exact dates when you’ll need to prepare and eat your food, you can be more tactical about what you buy at the grocery store to reduce food waste and keep your diet more balanced through the week.
2. Prep your meals
On busy mornings the last thing you want to be doing is chopping vegetables or cooking up protein. If you can prepare your meals ahead of time, you can help make your mornings smoother and stress-free.
Try cooking a range of interchangeable ingredients in advance to make mix-and-match meals on busy days. For example, cook a whole chicken, roast a tray of rainbow root veggies, bulk cook quinoa or grains, hard boil eggs, and make a few different dressings and sauces. Then choose the ingredients you want on the day and make a balanced lunch or dinner in a matter of minutes.
Tinned and dried ingredients are also your friend on jam-packed days. Think tinned tuna, sardines and chickpeas, as well as beans, nuts and seeds to add a range of healthy fats and protein in your diet.
3. Take breakfast on-the-go
When you’re tackling a busy morning you might be tempted to skip breakfast. But to give yourself enough energy to get through the day (and avoid making unhealthy choices when hunger hits) it’s important to have breakfast options on hand.
Opt for a breakfast you can eat on-the-go with zero prep time, including:
- Overnight oats with berries
- Healthy banana breakfast muffins
- Chia pudding with fruit compote
- An all-in-one smoothie
All these options can be made in advance and packaged in individual jars or containers, so you can eat them on your commute, in the office or on campus.
4. Pack snacks
Stressful days call for extra fuel so make sure you pack snacks too. Package them up the night before so you can just grab them and go in the morning, even if you’re running out the door.
Here are a few healthy snack ideas you can prep:
- Put portions of mixed nuts in individual containers
- Make homemade granola bars and individually wrap
- Chop veggie sticks and add to jars with a scoop of hummus or peanut butter
And if you forget your snacks? Try to opt for healthier options when you’re in the store or at the cafeteria. Look out for whole foods like nuts, fruit, jerky, or wholegrain crackers over chocolate, candy, and chips.
Tackle busy mornings by planning meals in advance
Show your body some love through busy periods by making healthier food choices, even when you’re rushed off your feet. If you can plan and prep your meals ahead of time, you can make sure you have a balanced diet that supports rather than harms your body during stressful times and gives you the fuel you need to perform.
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