It’s funny how our healthy eating habits tend to be the first to go out the window whenever we are faced with an extra busy schedule.
Whether it’s a project at work, exams, or extra mama duties, it’s usually our diet that takes the biggest hit. Which really sucks because that’s when our body needs the most support to combat extra stress and keep up with energy demands.
Then we end up relying on take out and easy to grab foods like bagels, pizza, and probably some chips and alcohol.. Not to mention the coffee and sweets!! All this is a recipe for adrenal fatigue, weight gain, and insomnia!!
So what are you to do? How can this cycle be interrupted?
Here is how to get started:
1. Make your health a priority. First thing first. Realize that you only have one amazing body and it needs your support to keep up with your schedule! When your body is under stress, it needs nutrients like magnesium, B and C vitamins, healthy fats, and protein (find my Adrenal Booster Smoothie recipe here)
2. Stock your fridge with easy to grab superfoods. By superfoods I just mean nutrient dense whole foods that will keep your energy levels up without the depleting stimulants like coffee and sugar.
Here are a few of my favourites:
- Hummus
- Cut up raw veggies (cucumber, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, radishes, asparagus)
- Hemp Pesto (makes for an easy pasta sauce, dressing, or dip)
- Mary’s Crackers
- Raw kale chips
- Lentil noodles (toss it with pesto and roasted tomatoes – YUM!)
- Soup (I love this Chick Pea Tomato soup but I also have Happy Planet Moroccan Chick Pea soup in the fridge!)
- Sardines (love this for quick protein with sliced cucumbers and a piece of rye bread. Raincoast brand is my fave)
- Fresh fruit (apples, pears, grapes – keep it simple!)
- Trail Mix (make your own by combining walnuts, pumpkin seeds, raw cacao nibs, and goji berries)
- Nut butter (almond butter and tahini are my favourites – use for dips for veggies, dressings, and spread on quinoa or brown rice cakes)
- Avocado (seriously, who can live without avocados?)
3. Always keep smoothie ingredients in stock. What better way to get maximum nutrition for least amount of time in the kitchen?
The essentials:
- Frozen berries and bananas
- Greens (I keep a bag of Power Greens in the freezer)
- Nut butter
- Protein (I love Genuine Health Vegan Fermented Protein Powder in Vanilla)
- Chia seeds
- Hemp seeds
4. Plan ahead! Meal plan that is:) I know it can totally slip your mind but if you take just an hour each week to find a few recipes, make a list and get in the kitchen for some meal prep. To help you get started I have put together a membership program for meal plans and shopping lists. Check out the details here.
