Tips for healthy eating when you are busy

Things have been a little crazy. I have been busy with classes, papers, and studying. I must apologize for not posting in a few days, and not sharing any new recipes or tips with you. Things slow down in the next few weeks, and then there will be more time to focus on what I enjoy; blogging, cooking, and relaxing! I can enjoy the summer weather and refocus on getting healthy. I thought I would share some tips on how I still eat healthy when life is just to busy!

-I always have a healthy snack in my bag. This typically includes hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, and half an ounce of almonds!

-I always carry water with me. This way I do not have to spend money on water, and it ensures that I always meet my daily intake.

-The night before I normally make my breakfast and lunch for the next day. Breakfast may be overnight oats, or an omelette that can be reheated. Lunch is typically a salad with tuna and avocado, or egg salad.

-If I know its going to be a busy day I take out the meat from my freezer so it can defrost and is ready to be cooked when I get home.

-Smoothies have become a staple in my life. I will usually have one for a morning snack, or to get some more protein with a meal. My smoothies are made with Vega all in one protein powder, frozen fruit, almond milk, flax seed, and a lot of spinach! The nice thing about smoothies is that you can virtually put anything you want in them!

-Working out tends to be a walk around campus or my neighbourhood when I am busy. It takes a back seat, but as long as I continue to eat healthy I am okay with that. I know that it is only temporary and life will get back to normal shortly!

Being healthy is a balance. You need to find a routine that works for you, and make healthy eating a habit!

I hope everyone has a great week!
k.

Organization is my key to weightloss

Freezer meals are perfect for organized healthy eating!

 To make life during the week easier I spent my Saturday making food and freezing it! I made egg muffins for breakfasts, baked turkey breasts for suppers, a pork roast to put in wraps and salads for lunches, and a quinoa vegetable salad for sides. These were all perfect to freeze, and then when I am in a rush or just to tired to cook I can pop them in the microwave and enjoy :) I also perfected my banana muffin recipe for a little treat with morning coffees. All of these recipes will be posted right here on my blog! They are gluten free, dairy free, and delicious!

Prepping for upcoming meals makes eating healthier easier. Every week I try to plan my meals for the week. Every night I plan my meals for the next day and put them into my points tracker so I know how much room I have for snacks, and treats. I can plan if I will have time to cook a meal, or if I need to grab something from the freezer. Organization is hard to find. But it becomes routine and makes healthy living a lot more convenient. Deciding what you are going to eat before hand takes all of the guess work out of meals, and if the food is ready or prepared you will be less likely to reach for an unhealthy alternative. At first meal prep and planning seems like a daunting stressful task. If you break it down into a day at a time, or three days at a time, it is easier to accomplish healthy eating. It is the little steps that make a huge difference in the end.

My favourite part of weight watchers is that you can truly eat whatever you want. It took me awhile to learn that this doesn't mean you should eat whatever you want because you won't see the results you want. What it means is that if you want a treat you can have a treat. Not everyday, and not all the time, but you can still have a little something to satisfy that sweet tooth. I have found that the healthier I eat, the more I want to eat healthy. The cravings go away, and you find healthy alternatives to the items you crave. The hardest part is eating my points. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables so they are zero points. If i go over the recommended serving I count them as points, and if I am still short I put avocado or healthy fats into my cooking for some extra points. I snack on almonds, and hummus, and try not to worry if I have a few extra points left over as long as I am not starving.

The hardest part of being busy has been finding the time to be active. I have been to tired to go to the late yoga classes that I love, and morning workouts have been exchanged for sleep and studying. I am hoping this will change before the weekend! However, I have still managed to find some activity in the busyness of life. Yesterday my friends went for a hike and I tagged along. We were gone for two hours, saw some breath taking views of the city, and took on some terrain that was deadly on my out of shape legs! It was great!

Being outside is refreshing and reenergizing. Hiking is a great way to spend time with friends, enjoy the summer weather, and get active. One day I will be able to hike to the top without wanting to crawl, or just sit down half way. Everyone has a starting point, and everyone has goals. It does not matter how you reach your goals, as long as you get there. It may take months, or even years. But every little bit is an accomplishment. Getting to the lookout was my accomplishment. Next time I'm striving to get there a little bit easier.

I will post the recipes for my freezer meals over the next few days, as long as time allows! Maybe I will get some more hikes in and I can share the views with you. I wish everyone a motivated week, and hope you can find a small accomplishment in a bad or busy day! Everything counts, some days just getting out of bed is a big accomplishment.

K.