Balancing work demands and a busy personal life can easily lead to a healthy diet making its way to the bottom of your to-do list.
Busy professionals often resort to quick but unhealthy meal options with no consideration of the long-term effects their diet can have on overall work performance and energy. A study released in the July 2014 British Journal of Health Psychology shows that the more fruits and vegetables people consume, the happier, more engaged, and more creative they tend to be.
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However, eating healthy can be more expensive and time-consuming without proper planning. Daris Wilson, personal trainer and CEO of JCF Boot Camp, has a few quick and easy tips for busy professionals.
1. Post-shopping preparation:
A husband and father of three, Wilson says the first thing his family does after returning from the grocery store is cut up their vegetables and produce, which helps them save time later in the week when preparing meals. “If you are going to have a vegetable omelet, everything will already be cut up, and all you will have to do is throw it in the skillet,” he says.2. Practice fast cooking: A Crock-Pot can surely be your best friend. Wilson suggests throwing your meat, herbs, and spices in the Crock-Pot early in the morning so your food can cook while you’re at work and dinner is ready the minute you get home.
3. Drink protein shakes: It’s easy to grab a bag of chips or a donut from the office kitchen when you’re on the go. Wilson suggests drinking a protein shake and resisting the urge of unhealthy snacks. “I pretty much have a protein shake everywhere I’m at, whether it’s at the office or at home,” says Wilson, adding that a protein supplement can sustain you for two to three hours until you’re able to get a full meal.