We are all strapped for time in this busy world. It seems that even when we have a break from the daily grind, the last thing we want to do is expend too much energy. If you are trying to stick to a healthy lifestyle while maintaining a heavy work schedule and busy personal life then you know that there isn’t much time to spare for leisurely cooking or relaxing meals.
The problem with this is two-fold. First, eating quickly and not taking the time to enjoy your meals can thwart your weight loss. There is evidence that eating while stressed or in a rush can cause you to overeat. Taking the time to be conscious of your meal and tune into your body will allow you to eat just enough rather than way too much.
Another way this rush-rush lifestyle can hurt your good diet is the lure of convenience foods. The term convenience food is used to define a food that is easily prepared. Typically these foods contain lots of preservatives, high sodium, and serious calories. It can be hard to find a healthy convenience food that also fills you up. The key to staying healthy while eating convenience foods is to simply be aware of what you are putting in your body.
Frozen meals are tempting to those of us strapped for time. They are quickly heated and require very little clean up. However, this convenience comes with a price. The good tasting frozen foods are often loaded with calories, making the term “healthy convenience food” somewhat of an oxymoron. Next time you are shopping for a week’s worth of dinners, make sure you are selecting varieties with acceptable calorie and fat levels.
If your favorite convenience food has a nutrition label that is less than desirable, try adding some vegetables to it and saving half for tomorrow. Your fattening frozen macaroni and cheese is only half as bad when you load it up with broccoli and eat the rest tomorrow. How about adding mushrooms and chicken breasts to the frozen food staple fettucini alfredo? By cutting the portion in half and then bulking it up with simply prepared healthy vegetables and lean protein, you can keep the convenience while cutting the harm in half! If the store isn’t willing to give you a proper healthy convenience food, you can make your own.
Convenient doesn’t have to mean a whole days worth of calories. Simply being conscious of your time-saving choices can make all the differences. Adjusting the meals with simple add ins or a side salad can bulk it up, allowing you to only eat a portion of what is intended, turning a typical frozen meal into a healthy convenience food.
