I always kind of chuckle when I hear someone respond to “how are you” with “busy!” because, well, aren’t we all? You rarely hear anyone say “hey, I’m just hanging out killing time” right? But being busy does not have to become an excuse for eating poorly, especially when feeding your family. And that’s why I’m thrilled to be partnering with Healthy Choice to bring you some helpful hacks for eating healthy on the go.
Today’s family is busier than ever before. Mom and Dad are busy with work, meetings, and shuttling the kids to all their activities. It’s easy to skimp on healthy foods in favor of grabbing a quick bite at the local drive thru. With a little bit of preplanning, you can still eat healthy when you are on the go. Here are some ideas that have worked for us:
Keep healthy snacks in the car.
If you are out driving around when hunger strikes, often time convenience stores and drive thrus are your only options and pretty hard to resist. Keep healthy snacks like nuts, jerky, freeze dried fruit or whole wheat crackers in your car. No, they won’t replace a healthy meal, but they just might take the edge off enough for you to get home and make something nourishing.
Stop at a grocery store instead of a drive thru or convenience store.
If you’re out and about and really need a quick snack, stop at a grocery store rather than a convenience store. Most grocery stores have containers of prepared fruits and veggies in addition to the ones like apples and bananas that need no prep. You can also grab healthy items like a container of yogurt or 100% fruit juice beverage. Hard to find those choices in a gas station quick mart.
Pack a cooler.
Coolers aren’t just for picnics. If you know you are going to be out and about for most of the day, pack a cooler for yourself just the same as you would for a day at the beach. One of my favorites is mason jar salads. You can make a week’s worth on the weekend and then just grab one or two as you need them. Don’t forget to include lots of water to drink as well!
Stock your freezer with lots of easy and quick meals.
I love the idea of planning out a month’s worth of meals and prepping and freezing them, but to be honest it rarely happens in this house. Many of those types of meals have to be put into a crock pot at the beginning of the day and I tend to forget that step. My latest go-to for quick and healthy (and delicious!) meals on demand is Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers.
Ready in just minutes and clocking in at 270 calories or less, it is a perfect lunch for me when I am rushing to find something between appointments or meetings. The four flavors pictured below are made with organic ingredients and tons of flavor, I find myself reaching for Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers even when I’m not in a hurry. I think it’s the steam that makes these bowls really stand out – the sauce is contained below the ingredients and gently steams them while cooking which means even the pasta comes out perfectly, never rubber, tough or soggy like other frozen meals. There are so many delicious varieties to choose from!
So you can see that eating healthy on the go doesn’t have to be impossible, no matter how busy you are!
diane says
Eating healthy definitely takes a bit of time and commitment. It is so important to fit it into our schedules, though!
Scott says
We just got back from a 5-day trip and did a lot of these things. Lots of little baggies of healthy snacks are so much better than fries from the drive thru!
Danielle says
I love these Healthy Choice meals, but I think I’m the only one in this house that does. They’re pretty tasty, and quick and easy to make. I usually have them for lunch when I’m home alone with both kids and don’t have time to cook something.
Chelley @ A is for Adelaide says
When we first started packing snacks (when the girls switched to solids), it was HARD to make healthy choices, but now it seems SO easy because it’s all we do! Love that there are SO many easy things to pack and go, and some great options to pick up at the grocery store if it is a late night- or even if you’re at a hotel! How simple to microwave a healthy dish rather than something junky, greasy and WAY too expensive from room service!
Melissa says
We are always so busy it is extremely hard and time consuming trying to keep up with making healthy meals, these would be perfect!
janis says
It is always so much easier to grab a bag of junk food for the ride, but it certainly isn’t as healthy! All these alternatives are great, I’m quite partial to the fruit containers, but as ling as it’s healthy it’s good in my book.
Crystal says
Once healthy eating becomes habit, it’s much easier. But it does take some prep. These are great ideas for making it possible.
Jolina says
Great tips! We do keep healthy snacks in the car, in my purse, everywhere lol! The cooler is a great idea. Saves us from paying $$$ for bottled water too.
Audrey says
I love these tips!! We do much the same especially with the kids so active in sports year round between baseball and swimming.
Jennifer says
These are great ideas. I had to start making sure I had non-perishable healthy snacks at all times because I would just stop and grab chips or something.
Audrey McClelland says
I love Healthy Choice frozen meals. They’re perfect for me because I have such a busy life and so many kids. They’re quick and easy, which is great!
Winona Southern Family Fun says
These are great tips! I work from home and something quick but healthy is super important! I love how Healthy Choices have so many varieties and perfect for lunch time.
mel says
I love that idea of bringing baggies of goodies. Those Steamers really are good too!
Neely Moldovan says
Those look delicious! Granola bars and nuts are my favorite on the go snacks.
William Sweeney says
Love these tips!! I know when we are on the go it can be hard to stay on track with healthy eating.
Brandy says
These are all great tips, I have seen these at the local grocery store but not yet picked them up. I am going to give them a try because they really seem quick and easy (just my style)!!!
Nicole Escat says
This is really good for busy families like me, eating healthy on the go is really helpful indeed.
Nicole Escat says
This is really good for busy families like me, eating healthy on the go is really helpful indeed. I’m sure that my family would love it! I’m going to check it out.
Elizabeth O says
Eating healthy takes both preparation and vigilance. If we don’t make a concerted effort to make the right stops along the way, or pack healthy snacks, it’s very easy to fall off track. Great points in your post 🙂