As the days go on of working from home, it can be hard to maintain healthy habits. Adjusting to a new way of daily life takes a lot of emotional energy, leaving us feeling worn out by the end of the day. Even though it might feel like extra effort, focusing on the health of your plate has the potential to transform how you feel and function in your day.
One of the first habits to fall by the wayside when there is a disruption in our daily routine is often healthy eating. Why? Because there are convenient options available to us, whether it be frozen foods or meals via delivery that make eating easier.
The problem, is that these foods are often not the most nutritious. It might alleviate some of the initial stress of mealtime, but will likely leave you feeling less than your best over time.
To help you thrive throughout the day, here are three ways to stay healthy at home.
Plan and prepare. This might be the most impactful habit, but also the one that will take the most effort. When there’s no plan in place, you might feel stuck in a bind come mealtime. By that point, it feels too late, and instead of opting for a nutritious meal, convenience wins.
The act of planning out your week’s worth of meals alone is a great first step. Making decisions ahead of time when there’s less feelings of stress and urgency can lead to healthier choices. It’s a little bit like showing up for a workout class and being told what to do. Pretty freeing, right? A menu plan for the week is like your workout plan, except you’re the one that put it together ahead of time.
To ensure this plan is put into place, try preparing a few items you know will help you out when it feels like crunchtime during the week. Maybe this is breakfast, since you’re struggling to find a morning routine. Or perhaps it’s lunch, because you find that you often just work right through this hour and by 2pm, feel your energy plummeting. Whichever meals you find most challenging to fit in throughout the week, prepare these foods ahead of time.
To make meal planning and prep a consistent part of your routine, check out this Meal Planner Starter Kit to help get you going!
Fuel in the Morning. You’ve heard the phrase, “breakfast is King”, right? Every body is different in their nutritional and dietary needs, but if there’s one thing that will help keep energy and productivity levels up throughout the day, it’s choosing the right fuel in the morning.
A breakfast that is full of sugar and highly processed carbohydrates has the potential to do a lot of damage in your day. It can leave you feeling hungry just a few hours later, cause your energy to come crashing down, and trick your body to think that the only way to get this energy back is to keep eating sweet things.
Choose a breakfast that is high in protein to keep you full until your next meal, fiber to keep energy levels consistent, and a little healthy fats to satisfy any cravings that might pop up throughout the day. Some examples of a healthy breakfast could be: a balanced smoothie, hard boiled eggs with whole grain toast and fresh fruit, or overnight oats.
Perfect Trifecta. The three nutrients that will help you feel your best are: protein, fiber and healthy fats.
- Protein is the key nutrient that will satisfy hunger levels (and also the first nutrient to seek out if you’re still hungry after a meal).
- Fiber, which goes hand-in-hand with minimally processed carbohydrates, will help stabilize blood sugar levels, slow down digestion, and keep energy levels up.
- Healthy fats give nutritious foods a pleasure factor, helping to satisfy cravings throughout the day.
By incorporating each of these nutrients on your plate at every meal, you will achieve a balanced plate that will help you thrive!
Carly Paige, health coach and cooking instructor, believes that healthy doesn’t have to be hard. Her mission is to show you simple swaps in and out of the kitchen to elevate your everyday that will transform your health. Carly is the author of Simply Swapped Everyday, a healthy guide and cookbook with over 75 plant-powered recipes and founder of FitLiving Eats – a place where she shares nutritious recipes and how-to guides.
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