“What should I be eating? What’s healthy?” I get questions about food, diets, and supplements all the time. And in today’s busy lifestyle- time becomes an important factor. “What can I eat that is easy and fast?”
Being a busy nurse sometimes I don’t have time to make elaborate meals. I may not even have the time to get to the store to do the shopping for the healthy recipes. I’m hear you- “I want to eat healthy! I just don’t want to spend 2 hours making the meals!!”
Often when I get asked questions about nutrition I have one response: We are all individuals. No one way of eating works for all of us. I cannot tell you what you should and should not be eating and quite frankly, as a health coach, I never would. Our bodies are unique and my healthy is not necessarily your healthy and vice versa.
Here are some of the easy, practical, and healthy ways that anyone can use to get a nutritious meal in.
- Invest in a crock pot. I’ve got to tell you, especially in the wintery months, a crock pot is a fantastic asset. Just recently I moved about an hour’s commute from my job. The thirteen hour days, the drive, the late hours I was coming home- it was killing me. So I realized- I use the crock pot on the weekends to make stews for my lunches… why not utilize this resource on the days I am out all day at work? That way when I get home- the meal is prepared for me! So all you have to do is plan ahead, get your ingredients, and throw them in the crock pot- Presto! The work is done for you.
- Pay a little bit more for the short cuts. Keeping in line with the idea above- the crock pot- we can talk about pre-cut packages of veggies and fruits. So let’s say you find a wonderfully healthy recipe for your crock pot, but you don’t have time to cut all of the onions, peppers, and other vegetables it calls for. Look to the frozen section of the store. Or now they have pre-cut bags of green beans, carrots, and other veggies- already diced, chopped, and cut for you so that you can conveniently use them in a flash!
- Create a base meal idea and then switch it up a bit each time. So think about this for an idea: a box of spinach. You can get a large box of organic, pre-washed, pre-cut spinach for less than five bucks. Then taking that spinach as the base ingredient you can make several salad varieties. I’ll throw out two for you and see if you can add to these ideas- get your creative juices flowing. My favorite thing to do is this: spinach, grape tomatoes, carrots, yellow peppers, broccoli, red onion, and raspberries. Instant salad with colors from around the rainbow (healthy way to eat is bringing color into your plate). The second choice: spinach, cucumber, walnut, raisins and a pear. Once you buy the box of spinach- imagine the possibilities you can do with it! Have fun and see what tastes you like to pair together.
- Move your salad to a sandwich or wrap. I absolutely love avocado- and despite the myth that it is “bad” for you because it is high in fat content (it is good for you because it is the “good” fat, the fat that your body actually needs) – I eat avocado several times a week. And here’s how: move my salad to the whole wheat bread for a quick sandwich with half an avocado, tomatoes, spinach, and Swiss cheese. Yummy!
Enjoy easy and healthy meals on-the-go. Get creative with your nutrition. And sharing is caring. If you come up with an easy, quick, and healthy meal- tell a friend. We all can find ourselves in a ‘food rut’ from time-to-time. If you have an idea for a healthy and fast recipe; don’t keep it to yourself! Tell a friend and share the practicality of healthy meals with them.
Nurse Coach Elizabeth Scala is a certified health and wellness coach, master’s prepared RN, and Reiki Master. Besides being the owner of Living Sublime Wellness and the founder of the RejuveNation Collaboration, Elizabeth is also an inspirational and motivational author and speaker. She presents workshops, educates organizations, and helps people live holistic lives of well-being. If you’re interested in finding out more, visit Coach Scala at www.livingsublimewellness.com and receive your special gift, her 3-Part Video Series: “Here’s Time for Your Health”.