Let’s face it: junk food is easy. A trip through the drive-through on a busy day? Easy. Ripping open a package of cookies at snack time? Easy. Sugary donuts or other breakfast sweets? Easy.
Eating healthy can be a challenge just because it isn’t always easy! Here are some tips to make it easier for you and your family to choose healthy foods.
- Stock the freezer. Keep easy meal starters, like turkey burgers and chicken breast strips in the freezer so you can whip up a tasty (and healthy) meal without a lot of effort.
- Like to grill? Make things easy by buying boneless and skinless chicken — it’s healthier and easier to get ready.
- Don’t hide the healthy stuff. Put apples, oranges, and other fruit in a bowl on the table or on the counter so healthy snacks are easy to find.
- Go for precut veggies. Your grocery store is full of baby carrots, celery sticks, grape tomatoes, and other easy to eat vegetables. You don’t have to do any chopping or washing — just open the bag and enjoy. And don’t forget the bagged salads, either.
- Add more beans to your meals. Sneak them into soups, put them on salads. Beans have fiber that helps fill you up and they’re packed with protein. Garbanzo beans, kidney beans, and black beans are also full of iron, zinc, and folic acid.
- Keep healthy snacks handy. Slip a bag of trail mix or a protein bar into your purse, briefcase, or diaper bag so you’ll have something to nibble if you need it. Having something healthy at hand will save you from hitting the drive through or convenience store when you’re starving.
- Fill up at breakfast time. Pair a high-fiber cereal with a cup of yogurt — it’s quick, easy, and healthy.
- Choose the 100 calorie snack packs or break up packages into single servings. It won’t take more than a few minutes to divide up a bag of chips or a package of cookies, but it’ll save everyone from overeating.