- Rushing to get out the door for work in the morning?
- Speeding to your next meeting?
- Guzzling down a coffee at lightning speed?
If any of these scenarios sound familiar the you probably don’t take much time out of your day to consider what or where you are eating your food to fuel you through the day.
If you are leading a busy lifestyle and find yourself constantly rushing from one place to the next, stopping to eat a meal in the day is probably not top of your priority list. However, the importance of trying to maintain a mindful approach to eating at all times is not to be forgotten.
Poor eating habits can lead to weight gain, digestive disorders, abdominal pain and skin complaints just to name a few. The following tips should help you to re-think your approach to eating during a busy working day.5 Top Tips to Eating Well ‘On the Go’
- Make time. Put aside 20 mins at the very least to sit down and eat your meal. Proper digestion is vital for gut health; if you don’t prepare you body for the process of digestion it can cause a myriad of stomach issues including pain and discomfort, acid reflux,
- Keep it light and easy to digest. If you have to eat-on-the-run then make it something simple that your body can digest easily. Don’t go for a giant sandwich or pasta dish and attempt to stuff it in whilst running to your next meeting! Pick up a soup or a smoothie that you can digest relatively quickly and won’t leave you with indigestion or other digestive complaints.
- Be prepared. Always carry a snack or two in your bag to ensure you don’t get caught out starving hungry and opting for the nearest unhealthy convenient snack. See the recipe below for ‘Energy Balls’.
- Don’t skip meals in the day and binge in the evening. A common habit for busy workers is to scrimp on food throughout the day, instead getting by on copious cups of tea and coffee and then arriving home late in the evening and having a massive meal. Despite all that coffee and tea wrecking havoc on your energy levels and adrenal system, you end up going to bed overly full without digesting your food properly which can led to poor sleep and digestive complaints.
- Get a good breakfast. If you have a long day ahead, a decent breakfast is crucial to ensure you stay alert and energetic by maintaining your blood sugar levels through out the day. Go for a protein-rich breakfast; yoghurt topped with nuts, seeds and berries, protein pancakes (see recipe below) and poached eggs with avocado & gluten-free toast are all great options.
Energy Balls 1 tbsp coconut oil4 dateshandful of almondshandful of sunflower seeds1 tsp cinnamon1 tbsp raw cacaodesiccated coconut, for coatingwater, as needed.
Blend all the ingredients together apart from the coconut and water.2. Add a few drops of water to help bind the mixture if necessary.3. Roll the mixture into balls and roll the balls in the coconut.
Protein Pancakes 2 eggs1 banana1/2 cup buckwheat flour1 scoop protein powder of choice1 tsp bicarbonate of soda1 tsp baking powderpinch of sea saltpinch of cinnamon1 tsp coconut oil, for frying
- Blend all the ingredients together with a hand-held blender or food processor
- Heat the coconut oil in a non-stick pan and pour the mixture into the pan in desired pancake size portions
- Cook for 2-3 mins on a low-medium heat on each side or until cooked through
- Serve with choice of coconut yoghurt, berries, flaxseed, coconut chips, chopped nuts.
