How to Eat Healthy Even When You're Busy

Being an aspiring or current pro cheerleading requires time commitment. You have to prepare for the auditions, rehearse with the squad, and make public appearances. On top of that, you may be working full-time, part-time, studying, or caring for a child.

As a result, there is little time to prepare healthy meals. That makes you prone to eating unhealthy foods. While eating unhealthy food is fine occasionally, you shouldn’t make this a routine as it can affect your figure and physical performance. Here are 8 ways to make sure you eat well despite a hectic schedule.

1. Always carry a pack of healthy pre-portioned snacks in your bag

Midday and mid-afternoon activities can make you hungry. If you’re outside your home, you have a high chance of eating something unhealthy due to the availability of these goods. But if you keep a pack of mixed nuts in your bag, you’ll be able to satisfy your hunger without buying from the closest hotdog stand.

2. Bring a healthy meal with you wherever you go

Similar to bringing snacks, you should have an airtight-sealed lunch in your bag when you’re out. Even if you plan your lunch to be a salad, the crisp of the greens will still be preserved so you don’t have to worry about it being stale. Carrying a packed lunch is also a great way to save money.

3. Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it all the time

Drinking water may not be the same as eating but quenching your thirst is a good way to control your calorie intake. This is because the part of our brain responsible for hunger and thirst often mix up these signals, thereby making us eat more than we should. Carrying a reusable water bottle with you can help you satisfy your thirst.

4. Make healthier food choices when eating out

As mentioned, processed meals are easily bought due to the wide availability of fast-food chains. You’re likely to eat in one if you forget to bring your packed lunch with you when you’re out. That is why if you do end up eating at a restaurant, make sure that you pick the healthiest option or stop eating the meal once you feel full.

5. Look beyond fresh produce

While fresh produce is always the best when it comes to eating healthily, you can still opt for canned veggies if you’re really short on time for meal prep. They are just as nourishing as the ones you can buy from a farmer’s market. However, you shouldn’t make these goods your staple as a lot of them contain preservatives.

6. Prepare everything in advance

Meal prep takes a lot of your daily time if you only chop and wash your ingredients right before you cook. That’s why you should do these tasks right after you arrive from the grocery or market.

If you really don’t have time for this, I suggest that you buy pre-cut ingredients and have them portioned into different food containers before storing them in your fridge. This way, the only thing you’ll have to do when cooking is put all the ingredients in a pan, season, and cook.

7. Stock your fridge with healthy meals that require little to zero prep

If you truly have no time for cooking or any form of meal prep, then you should just stock your fridge with healthy frozen goods. These meals can be heated up using a microwave. You’ll only need to put the frozen meal in the little box, set the correct timer, and do your other tasks as you wait for the food to be ready.

8. Use a tight schedule to your advantage

One of the best things about being busy for cooking or meal prep is that you’ll avoid overeating. So whether you eat your healthy breakfasts, lunches, or dinners, stick to quantities that are enough to satisfy your needs.

It’s still best that you should be the one to prepare all your meals as you can guarantee that everything you eat is healthy. Or have a partner, spouse, or assistant do it for you. Also, make your day less busy by removing unnecessary tasks from your list. Avoid procrastination as well and reduce your time on social media.

Discover what it takes to be a healthy pro cheerleader by reading these articles!

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