If you are focusing on eating in a healthy manner throughout the day, it is important to plan accordingly for when you are out at work or away from you home. These are the times when it can be difficult to stick with your plan. More often than not when you are away at work, simply giving in and going to the nearest fast food restaurant or eating at the workplace cafeteria is an option many people choose.
However if improving your daily nutrition is top priority to help you lose weight, it may not be wise to eat at these places since most offer tempting meals not particularly nutritious and low in calories. Here are 5 ways you can ensure that healthy food is with you at all times when you are away from your home which will help you stick with your weight loss plan.
Use These 5 Easy Ways To Take Travel Food & Snacks With You
1. When Cooking Dinner, Simply Double The Recipe
When you are preparing dinner, an easy way to make sure you have adequate leftovers for the following day(s) is to double, or even triple the recipe for whatever you are preparing for you and your family. By doing so you will ensure that you will have plenty afterwards to pack away in travel containers for lunch the next day. If you have multiple leftovers you can always freeze extra portions and just get them out when needed.
2. When Eating at a Restaurant, Ask For A To Go Box Right Away
When you are focused on eating in a healthy manner you know the importance of eating an appropriate portion size at all meals. Often restaurants provide excess amounts of food regardless what you order. Therefore since meals at restaurants generally have double or even triple the amount of calories needed for one meal, an easy way to lessen that amount is to ask for a ""to go"" box (also commonly known as a doggie bag) when your meal is served. Immediately put half the portion away and you will now have a lunch sized meal in your hands for the next day and a appropriately sized meal left in front of you.
3. Prepare Travel Sized Snack Bags
Since it's a healthy practice to get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, one way to help make sure this happens is to prepare travel sized snack bags to keep in your refrigerator. An easy way to prepare for this is to spend a moment at night and slice the fruit into small pieces and mix to your liking. Then simply put into small travel containers or plastic bags and they are ready to go. You can then put a few in the frig and store the others in the freezer for later use.
4. Prepackaged Travel Snacks
Some snacks are already packaged in a way so they can simply be thrown into a lunch bag and eaten on the go. Snacks such as granola bars, boxes of raisins, most fruits, some vegetables, and yogurt are ready to eat and need no preparation time. Some just need to be placed in sandwich bags such as rice cakes and almonds. When you combine these snacks along with a bottle of water, you have the perfect snack that's hovering right around 100 calories. You'll find this is filling enough to tide you over to your next meal and it's great for your body.
5. Healthy Wraps, Sandwiches, and Salads
For those who may not have access to a microwave or just want something different that is healthy, a sandwich, wrap, or salad can be the way to go. Again, these take very little time to prepare yet if you do it right, you will find that this type of lunch will only range between 200-400 calories if you keep a watchful eye on the ingredients and condiments you use.
Keep these points in mind. Stick with dressings that are low in calories like Italian. Stay away from mayonnaise and cheese if possible. If you use mustard and pickles instead you may not even notice those other two are missing. Also keep in mind to use whole wheat bread and wraps that are healthier for you. A healthy wrap or salad along with a small bag of almonds/raisins and a large bottle of water and you have yourself a wonderful, great tasting lunch!
Gregory L. Gomez, M. Ed, has been teaching 5th grade in the LAUSD for 12 years and has now embarked on a journey to lose weight, eat healthier, and finally get in shape! Follow his progress on http://healthychoicesinlife.com as he strives to lose 60 pounds through dedicated exercise and healthy eating. Get a FREE monthly Healthy Choices Newsletter along with FREE Healthy Eating Ebook at http://healthychoicesinlife.com/programs.
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