Key Points

-You can have the best diet in the world but if it’s something that you can’t be compliant with it’s destined to fail

-Make it easier on yourself to eat healthy by having easily accessible meals and snacks

-When you eat out, embrace your inner kid

1) Have a go-to-meal

If possible have 2 or 3 recipes, a go-to-meal is a quick easy healthy dish that you know you can prepare in under 20 minutes with no more than 8 common ingredients. Often times we deviate from our normal eating patterns because of fatigue and convenience. If you’re someone with a busy schedule it’s a familiar scenario: you arrive home late from work or the gym, very hungry and too tired to make a whole dinner so you reach for the easiest calorie source you can find. Often times these easy packaged sources are low nutrient calorie bombs. This scenario isn’t a problem if it happens every once in awhile, since your metabolism is a continuous thing impacted over a sum of choices rather than just one. A high sugar kids cereal dinner won’t sabotage your diet, but if it becomes a continuous thing then you can have problematic results. A good go-to-meal will have easy to cook proteins, starches, and vegetables that you can make in one pot or pan.

2) Embrace your inner kid

While you’d much rather prepare lunches at home because you can better control the nutritional quality and save money, fast food lunches are very much a prominent staple in the diet for people with hectic schedules. An easy way to control your calorie amount without having to scan through various menus is to order from the kid’s menu. The portion size for the kid’s menu at the majority of restaurants is often the appropriate serving size for most adults. Many restaurants are also especially more conscientious of the nutritional quality of kid’s menus and as a result have added fruits/vegetables sides that you can’t find on many adult combos. As an added bonus at some fast food places you still get a cool toy too.

3) Pack snacks

A great way to manage hunger levels is packing nutrient dense snacks. High protein and fat sources rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the best choices because of their satiating effects. Things like beef jerky and nuts are convenient, easy to pack healthy snacks.

4) Super Smoothies

Have one super smoothie a day as a nutritional insurance policy, it serves as a simple action that you’re committed to a strong and healthy life. The ideal smoothie would have vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. If for whatever reason your schedule makes it difficult to have nutritious meals for the day, have one super smoothie as an anchor you can depend on to meet most your nutritional requirements.