As much as it has become everyone’s priority to live an active lifestyle and adopt a healthy diet, one of the main barriers to establishing consistency and routine is – the lack of time. Preparing healthy meals takes time and effort and if you hate cooking and like to live on the go, this can be quite a challenging task.
However, it is possible to eat healthy without bothering to cook too much and this is how to do it.
Stock up your freezer
The best way to start is to stock up your freezer with healthy foods that can be easily combined into a meal. For instance, loads of frozen veggies and fruits mean you won’t have to be shopping all the time and you can have a quick meal in just a few minutes in a microwave or a wok.
Take a few short-cuts
There’s really no shame in taking a few short-cuts to make things a bit easier. For instance, you can buy pre-cut and pre-mixed ingredients that only take a few minutes to cook, whether it’s a spaghetti carbonara, butter chicken or a beef and vegetable stir-fry – just a few of all-time favourites.
What many also like to do is rely on food delivery services and it has been estimated that Australians spend on average of A$2,000 per year on food delivery! With a hectic work schedule and a chronic lack of time, it’s very convenient to just sit back and enjoy your evening with healthy meals delivered to you in Brisbane or opt for healthier choices in Singapore through Deliveroo or Foodpanda. Just be careful to make smart choices, such as lean meats as good protein source, salads and greens for fibre sources, and opt for sensible dressings instead of bacon and croutons.
Another clever short-cut you can take is smoothies. They take very little time to prepare and are the simplest way to ensure you consume all the fruits, veggies and vitamins you need for the day. There are thousands of smoothie recipes out there and all you need to do is find the ones that suit your taste, have your fruits ready in the fridge or freezer, and with about two cups of them a day and 5 minutes of effort, you’ll have a meal in a glass ready to go!
Learn a few easy meals
It’s very practical and useful to learn a few staple meals so when you fall short of time, you know you can whip up a good, healthy meal in no time. All you need to ensure is that you have standard ingredients such as rice, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, eggs and chicken always on your weekly grocery list so when you reach in your fridge, you’ll have something to work with.
A crockpot can also become your best ally in preparing meals with minimal effort. Just throw in some food in the morning before work, set it up and by the time you come home, your meal will be automatically cooked. These dishes usually require only 3 to 5 ingredients and no particular cooking skills, but in the end, you’ll have a nutritious meal to enjoy.
A few final tips
To make sure you don’t run out of options, keep a few snacks at hand, such as apples, carrots, almonds, and Greek yoghurt, so you can always reach for something when you’re in a pinch.
A good sandwich and a salad are an excellent choice of meal as they require no cooking and both can provide all the nutrients you need.
And finally, the ultimate no-cooking method is eating out but make sure you have a good restaurant strategy because it’s not unhealthy to eat, it’s where you eat and what you eat.
Good quality food and healthy eating habits are essential to sustain your busy schedule and the solution lies in stocking up your kitchen with healthy food choices and having a good day-to-day plan. Once it turns into a habit, it’ll become much easier to keep it up.
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