My friend actually
“requested” this post, and I loved the idea. She wanted a post on how to pack healthy food for an entire day in order to refrain from “giving up & going to the
drive-thru”. Like myself, she has just begun a semester of full-time internship
plus full-time night classes. So, basically, the both of us spend 8 am- 5 pm
working & then head straight to our university for class from 6pm- 9pm.
If that’s not a long day, I don’t know what is! Mix that with a 40 minute
commute each way, & it leaves me with a serious lack of that whole “time”
thing.
As I’ve mentioned before,
I don’t “eat out” during the week. I prefer to spend my money on fresh
groceries that I can prepare myself from home. I like having control over what
I will be eating throughout the day, & what ingredients will be going into
my meals. I find it much easier to
maintain a healthy diet (& weight!) when my food choices are made in
advance, rather than “in the moment” when I’m hungry & may or may not be
thinking clearly. It’s easy to go overboard on food or make a poor meal choice
when you’re starving and short on time.
I always start my day with coffee & a solid breakfast at
home to get me going (ok, not gonna lie… it’s usually consumed in the car while I drive). Then I take 3 snacks,
lunch, & dinner in my lunch box “to-go”. I don’t always finish the snacks, but I would rather have
too much than not enough. When you run out of food is when you end up hungry
& desperate, tempted by a fast food joint—don’t do it! Here are a few tips to
make it easier:

·     
Protein:
Keep quick protein options on hand to throw in a salad or mix in with veggies
for a stir-fry. I make a lot at once & save it in the fridge for when
I’m in a hurry. Here are some ideas:
o   Hard-boiled
eggs
o   Grilled
chicken breasts
o   Sliced
deli meats (ham, turkey, etc.)
o   Canned
fish (tuna, salmon, etc.)
o   Fully
cooked bacon
o   Jerky

·     
Fruits
& Nuts: Great for snacks, but don’t overdo it! I usually go for
sliced apples with almond butter, Larabars, trail mix, berries, or whatever fresh fruit I have in the fridge.

·     
Vegetables:
You can never have too many…
o   Slice
up veggies like baby carrots & celery as soon as they’re home from the grocery store
& keep them in the fridge. Toss in a bag with
some broccoli or cauliflower for a snack.
o   Keep
spinach or mixed greens on hand for salads.
o   Cherry
tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, & broccoli slaw make great additions
for salads as well.
o   Avocados
are a great source of healthy fats & taste good too!
Here’s an example of what I packed one day last week:

Drinks: Bottled water, coconut water
Snack 1: Sliced apple with cinnamon almond butter
Lunch: Chef Salad & My Go-To Dressing
Snack 2: Beef jerky & Homemade Coconut Cream Pie Larabars
Snack 3: Carrots, celery, broccoli & cauliflower
Dinner: Grilled chicken breast with spicy mixed veggies (leftovers)

So, here’s a few do’s & don’ts to wrap it up:

Do:
  • Pack the night before
  • Learn to love leftovers
  • Always bring an extra snack
  • Take lots of liquids & stay hydrated!
Don’t:
  • Skip breakfast
  • Wait until the morning to pack
  • Pack too little
  • Give up & go to the drive-thru 😉

That’s it! Let me know if you have any questions & what you like to pack for on-the-go! 

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Filed   lifestyle, what I ate