Constantly connected to work, family, and friends, we are a society that focuses on getting things done. Convenient fast food establishments are strategically placed to pull us in at our most vulnerable moments, and food companies tout their ready to eat meals. We may not be able to change the ‘on the go’ attitude, but there are healthy snacks available that can provide nutrition, enrich our health, and give us energy to accomplish our everyday goals.
Nutrition Bars
Nutrition bars are great options for snacks or meal replacements. They can provide anywhere from 150-500 calories in addition to most of your daily nutritional requirements. They have come a long way from the cardboard tasting bar of the past. Brands like Zone Perfect, PowerBar, and Clif make excellent bars for a variety of different caloric and taste bud needs.
Fruit
Sometimes people on the go don’t want to hear it. They want to believe that bagged chips and fast foods are the only snack they can possibly stuff down in the car. However, fruit comes in it’s own packaging, provides countless essential vitamins and minerals, and provide anywhere between 100-300 calories, perfect for snacking. Bananas are a great ‘on the go’ option, along with apples, and pears. Just replacing one unhealthy snack with a piece of fruit will greatly benefit your health.
Trail Mix
Unsalted nuts are a great source of protein, along with essential vitamins and minerals. Choose from peanuts, almonds, cashews, and countless other healthy and tasty nuts. Varieties of trail mixes come pre-made, but just mixing your favorite nuts with plump raisins and some sweet M&Ms can provide the perfect amount of protein, fruit sugar, and just that little bit of chocolate to keep you going. Don’t be afraid of putting chocolate in your healthy snack, just a little bit will do no harm and will make you less likely to binge later on.
And with just a little preparation…
Weekends are a great time to organize your snacks for the upcoming week. Doing so will give you a fighting chance when life gets chaotic. During the weekend take the time to cut up fruits like cantaloupe and pineapple, and vegetables like carrots and cucumbers. Put them into serving size travel containers and you will have some sweet, easily accessible snacks on hand during the work week. Hard boil eggs and even peel them in advance, just in case you need to eat in the car.
Preparation is crucial when attempting to eat healthy on the go. Society makes it too easy for us to just give in. So continue being on the go if need be, but don’t neglect you well being. Healthy snacks can easily be incorporated into your busy lifestyle.
