5 Realistic Tips for Eating Healthy When You Don’t Have the Time or Energy

With all of the information, recipes, articles, and podcasts on eating healthy today, it can be overwhelming to figure out what will work for you and your family when you don't have ample time or energy. 

Generally, we all know the basics - drink more water, eat lean protein, and up your greens - but the real challenge arises when it's time to put it all into action and stay consistent.

Any simple search on the internet will point those vying for a healthy lifestyle toward practices like meal prepping, and maybe you've tried that before. Perhaps you've bought a full meal-prepping suite of storage bags and containers, fully intending to spend your Sundays in the kitchen to save yourself a bit of time through the week.

But I bet you know what happens next, right?

You either don't have time - or energy - over the weekend to devote the hours necessary in the kitchen to get it going. Or, once you've successfully meal-prepped a suite of identical entrees, you open the refrigerator door midweek, discouraged to find yet another taco bowl waiting for you.

So what do you so often? Toss the remaining meal prep containers and head to grab a fast food meal in town, vowing to plan a better menu the following week.

You know that there has to be a better, more realistic way for modern families to stay consistent in their healthy eating goals. And, you're right. 

Today, outside of our own personal chef services, we're sharing five of our favorite tips to eat healthy, especially when you don't have time or energy to spare!

Tip #1: Add-in new foods slowly. Don't overhaul!

Research shows it's far easier to add in new habits by attaching them to currently held practices, and the same goes for your diet! 

If your goal is to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning, set it next to your bed and drink it as soon as you get up. If your goal is to eat more greens, buy a bag of frozen spinach and add a small helping to your morning eggs rather than revolutionizing your entire lunch or dinner menu in one day. 

Add in nutrition and commit to small changes in bite-size pieces - don't overhaul!

Tip #2: Prep with your capacity in mind.

Time and energy are precious commodities, and if you're in short supply of both - which you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't - don't devise a weekly plan of intricate meals. 

Instead, plan around your time and energetic capacity. For example, stock your freezer with basic staples like chicken and vegetables and your pantry with spices you love, so when you do find the energy or a hidden pocket of time, you can make a dump-meal in the crockpot without needing to thaw or prep anything! 

Tip #3. Store snacks you love.

Keep a stash of non-perishable, healthy food items handy in places you frequent like your car, living room, and kitchen. Keep a pouch in your car or a basket on your kitchen counter for easy grab-and-go snacks. Load your new snack station with fresh fruit, lean beef jerky, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc.

Tip #4. Make a bit extra.

Make the most of the dinners you do whip up by preparing extra and storing the rest in meal prep containers. It's easy enough to plan to meal prep, but following through gets tricky when faced with dedicating your Sunday afternoon to chopping, slicing, and stir-frying in the kitchen. 

Meal prepping may save time through the week, but Sunday rest is much more precious for those of us low on time and energy. So, cook double portions for the meals you do make when you have time to make them!

Tip #5. Plan ahead (or don't!).

The first step to staying committed and consistent to a healthy eating lifestyle is equipping yourself with a strong strategy. 

For instance, plan to spend your lunch break on Friday devising your next week's meals. Or, take a break from the planning and use our personal chef services. We have endless menus and recipes - and we customize specifically to each client's needs, which means you don't have to sacrifice any of your extra down-time to plan or prep your or your family's meals. 

Instead, spend it reading that new mystery novel you keep having to put down mid-chapter. Spend it calling a friend you haven't seen in a while. Spend it going for a walk with your family. Don't spend it meal prepping.

low on energy and time? who isn't?

Our personal chef services plan, prep, cook and deliver the meals you need and crave so you can make the most of the time you have together as a family. 

We stock your refrigerator with meals that are both nutritious and delicious because we don't cut corners or make compromises when it comes to your taste buds. Like you, we know family meals are opportunities to connect, build memories, and share quality time during a busy week. That's why we create nutritionally whole and deliciously memorable meals that live up to that belief.