If you are like most people today and live in an "on the go" lifestyle, then you are probably one of the many people today that has skipped the occasional meal, or grabbed a meal that was not the best meal for your body. Maybe you are also one of the many people that just feel that you do not have the time to eat healthy.  Missing meals, or grabbing preprocessed meals is not a good idea or your desire is to improve your physique, increase your energy levels and improve your overall health. Understanding what to do in the areas of good nutrition and healthy eating is!

In this healthy eating article, you will find some helpful nutrition tips on staying well nourished, metabolically efficient, and energized throughout the day. The first step to living a healthy lifestyle is to begin incorporating the idea of cooking in bulk, preparing your meals ahead of time, and having healthy and nutritious snacks handy when you are "on the go".

The Health Advantages of Cooking in Bulk

• Cooking large quantities of food once or twice a week saves time and makes meal preparation easy.

• When preparing your meals, begin cooking the items that take the most amount of time first and finish with the easiest items, last. (i.e.: I bake a large salmon filet in the oven for 40 minutes, set the rice cooker at 20 minutes next and finish off with cutting up my veggies for either a salad or to be nuked).
  

• Make enough food for two, four or even six healthy meals. Many of these healthy meals can be frozen and used later.

• Cook large amounts of lean animal protein that can be refrigerated or froozen. This way you can quickly grab healthy food when you are hungry or need a healthy meal. Use zip-lock freezer bags for storage.

• Cut your veggies up, rinse and store in a crisper. When you're ready for a salad, it is right there, ready to eat.

• Use canned legumes (kidney beans, black beans, corn), rinse and re-heat in the microwave vs. preparing them from scratch.

• Hard boil your eggs ahead of time and refrigerate them.  This is a quick way to get the high quality protein everybody needs for good health. 

Freezer Tips for Healthy Eating

 Your freezer can be your best friend when it comes to healthy meal preparation, convenience, time saving, money saving and great tasting meals.

• Prepare fresh food for freezing as soon as possible after buying it.

• To increase the longevity of your frozen foods, use zip-lock freezer bags and make sure you have taken all the air out.

• Never re-freeze food that has been completely thawed. If food has been previously frozen, cook it before freezing it.

• Always allow cooked foods to cool to room temperature before freezing. 

• Undercook food slightly if you are planning to freeze them. Over-cooking can occur during re-heating.

• Learn to recognize "freezer burn". Some foods change color or fade, gray and white spots appear on food or the edges get dry, and vegetables will become limp when cooked.

Healthy Snacks for People "On the Go"

If you are traveling on business or are simply on the road a lot, buy the following items; a vinyl food bag, a refreezable ice bag, and some plastic containers & cutlery. These are some easy items to add to your "feed bag" to help keep you on the "healthy eating" track:.

• Any meal you may have prepared and frozen in a plastic container; All that you need to do is find a microwave.

• Premade salads in tupperware

• Cut up veggies

• Healthy bars: Cliff Bars, Boulder Bars or "The Perfect Food" bar  (or even home made protein fudge bars , which can take just minutes to make)
  

• Canned protein shakes

• Cans of water-packed tuna, turkey, or chicken.

• Bran muffins

• Rice cakes in sealed sandwich bags

• Low-fat cheese, individually wrapped

• Cut-up fruit or whole fruit 

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Corn tortillas wrapped around chicken tenders with salsa

• Packets of instant oatmeal (natural, not with sugar added)

Healthy Choice

Even though many of us chose to live a busy lifestyle, eating regularly and eating at the right time is important for keeping your energy levels even, your physique lean, and to curb over eating. Eating healthy and regularly is also a choice. When I hear people say, "I don't have time to eat", I hear them saying that they are not choosing to make the time to eat.  Food is one of the highest forms of self-care! Make the choice to care for yourself!

About the Author Sandra Blackie

Sandra Blackie

As a Professional Bodybuilder with the International Federation of Bodybuilders,Sandra Blackie ranked as high as the top five in the world in womens bodybuilding, competing in the very prestigious Ms. Olympia three times, and winning the Canadian National Bodybuilding title in 1986.

Sandra Blackie has traveled the world, giving seminars on health, fitness, nutrition, bodybuilding and how to live a healthy and fit lifestyle. Today, as the owner of Freedom of Fitness, a personal training and nutrition counseling service, Sandra Blackie helps men and women enjoy the freedom of healthy weight management through proper nutrition and exercise, regularly provided important health tips, and nutrition guidance to those looking to improve their health. Sandra Blackie can be reached at 858-273-4151. Freedom of Fitness is located at 2949 Garnet Ave. in San Diego, CA.