The idea of bringing nutrition into your home sounds like a good thing, but it’s not always easy. Here are some tips to make it happen:
- Breakfast is a good time to start, because if you’ve got a busy schedule and aren’t making it home for lunch, you can go for hours without eating. A smoothie is an easy way to get nutrients quickly. Fruit, yogurt and milk make a quick and healthy breakfast that’s great on the run. If you’re staying at home, cook an egg-white omelet or scrambled eggs. Or make up some whole-wheat pancakes with berries. Switching from sugary cereal to whole grains will help cut calories and sugar intake.
- Add more vegetables to your meals by making stir-fries with broccoli or bok choy, or adding frozen mixed vegetables to a casserole. You can also steam some spinach for an easy side dish; just remember that fresh spinach wilts quickly so add the leaves in at the last minute.
- Make time in your schedule for meal preparation. Set aside a specific time each week to prepare meals in advance and freeze them so that you will have healthy options readily available when your schedule gets busy. By preparing meals ahead of time and freezing them, you remove much of the stress often associated with preparing a meal after a long day at work or school.
- Make a plan for success. If you’re going grocery shopping, always go with a plan — either written down on paper or in your head. Start by writing down everything you need in one column and then create another column with every healthy alternative to each thing on the list — two cups of raspberries instead of two cups of ice cream.
- Make changes gradually. Don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to change everything at once. Focus on one thing at a time, and make sure it sticks before moving on to the next thing.
