IT'S not always easy being healthy. City life is hectic, from working long hours, to keeping your social life in check. You might have great intentions at the start of the week, but if you get home at 8pm every night totally ravenous, you're not gonna have the time or energy to cook up a big, healthy feast, right? Cue the late night binge on toast and peanut butter (just me?!).
But it doesn't always have to be that way. I have a ridiculously busy life, but I've worked out plenty of ways to eat well while maintaining it. Perhaps these are tips you might already know, but it doesn't hurt hearing them again and maybe even trying them out this time!
Here's my guide...
1. PREP
This isn't a revolutionary new idea, but it works. If you're going out, it's easy to turn to convenience food to fill you up. It seems less time consuming than the other option, after all!
But if you want to stay healthy, you need to prepare your food at home. The best way to do it is by spending your Sunday evening batch cooking and getting your snacks packed up and ready for your week at work. It might start off feeling like a drag, but your waistline - and your bank account - will thank you for it. Plus, it actually saves you valuable time throughout the week too.
2. MICROWAVE IT
I know what you're thinking: microwaving food doesn't sound like the healthy option. But Panasonic have released a selection of swanky new flatbed microwaves, which have options to grill, steam and bake your food. So not only is prepping your food quick and easy, but cooking them won't destroy all those juicy vitamins and minerals in your food that keep your body ticking over and feeling its best.
One of my favourite healthy dinners that can be made entirely in their microwaves is baked salmon and steamed green veggies.
3. BULK BUY
While eating fresh fruits and vegetables is one of the most important ways to stay healthy, there are plenty of dried goods like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, nut butters, grains and legumes that can be bought in bulk. This saves you money and time, as you don't have to keep popping to the supermarket to top up your food cupboard.
My favourite place to bulk buy is Healthy Supplies, which was recommended to me by a friend. Last time I went shopping there, my snacks lasted me almost a year! You can also bulk buy certain food items from Amazon, like 1kg tubs of almond butter. Mmmmmmmmm...
4. WINE AND DINE
Just because you're trying to eat healthy doesn't mean you should deprive yourself.
I still allow myself to meals out, but I try to limit this to one dinner a week. It's also worth checking the nutritional information of the restaurant before you eat there if available, to ensure you enjoy your meal guilt-free. All the chains like Pizza Express, Zizzi and Strada provide this information on their websites, as well as cheap deals!
5. MAKE YOUR OWN
Making your own food doesn't have to be time consuming. In fact, I find making certain things myself saves me time and money. One of my fave things to prepare myself is houmous. It only takes a couple of minutes and it's even healthier than shop-bought versions. If you've got a nutri-bullet, just whack in a can of chickpeas, 2 tbsp olive oil, a clove of crushed garlic, plenty of salt and a touch of water, whizz it up and voila!
6. SHOP ONLINE
If you want to save time and eat well, buying your groceries online is one of the easiest ways. Not only does it save you having to trawl round the shop when you could be doing other, more useful things, but just selecting those items you buy every week just once means you can order the same items at the click of a button next time. Plus, if you live with other people who want to join you, you'll be able to get free delivery as you're spending more too. Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Ocado are great options and they offer good deals from time to time too.
Have you got any other great tips? I'd love to hear 'em!
'Til next time.
