Modern life can be challenging, hectic and demanding...

And with that comes the risk of making impulsive decisions such as eating quick food that lacks good nutrition and doing less exercise.

We’ve all been there! There’s no doubt it’s a challenge. But with a shift in habits and effective meal planning, you can ensure your body gets the fuel it needs to thrive, helping you to keep up with the demands of life.

Seven ways to eat healthy when life takes over:

1) Plan ahead

Planning snacks and meals in advance is a total game changer when it comes to eating healthy on the fly. Find (and bookmark) recipes you like. Keep your pantry stocked with good ingredients and bake/cook in advance so you have a fridge full of nutritionally beneficial meals.

Online food shopping is a great time-saver for busy folk too with most supermarkets allowing you to find and store your favorite products for a super speedy checkout next time. Result!

2) Keep ingredients simple (but wholesome)

Healthy cooking doesn’t have to mean hours slaving over a hot stove. In fact, the healthiest meals are often quick and easy to make and require just a few ingredients that combine nicely together. Try pairing veg and protein with crisp salads, grab some fresh herbs to add to your Cauliflower Rice, or chop up some fruit for a snack. Going back to basics is a massive win that delivers more time back into your life bank.

3) Food prep

“I really regret that meal prep session”, said NOBODY. EVER! A couple of hours in the kitchen on the weekend ALWAYS pays off and is a great way to ease the stress of deciding what to cook when the week kicks in. Line up some easy recipes and knock them out in one mammoth cooking session. You can portion them out into lunches and dinners, label them and stick them in the fridge/freezer for the week ahead. Job done!

4) Save & organise recipes

Found a recipe you like? Save it somewhere easily accessible so you can refer to it when you need. Easy access (without having to trawl through google) is a huge bonus when it comes to cooking on the go, so get organised and store your favorite dishes in one place.

5) Sort your snacks

Those 3pm cravings are often the key culprit when it comes to reaching for the sugar. But with some forward planning you can have a stash of energising, wholesome snacks ready to go. We like these Sweet Potato & Blueberry Flapjack Bars, Savoury Sweet Breakfast Muffins (equally good at 3pm!) and Chocolate Sweet Potato Energy Bites. Three delicious, veg-packed choices that tick the taste box whilst delivering on nutrition.

6) Pantry power

Convenience food doesn’t have to come with a bunch of sugar-laden, processed ingredients you’ve never heard of. There are a multitude of convenient options out there for busy folk that help you fuel up on the good stuff when life takes over. Ready cooked beans and pulses, wholegrain wraps and microwavable Fullgreen veggies are all great pantry staples to have on standby. Whilst tahini, ready crushed garlic, stir in herb and spice pastes and light & healthy salad dressings are great ways to amp up the flavor of your dishes.

7) Hydrate!

Hunger pangs on the rise? You might just need a drink. Thirst is often disguised as hunger so levelling up your water game can make a HUGE difference to how we feel (and the food choices we make) throughout the day. Start by investing in a good-sized water bottle to keep on your desk and take regular sips throughout the day. If those sips start to tail off as the deadlines ramp up, try setting an alarm on your smart phone as a reminder to hydrate – take it from us, it works a treat…

Five quick recipes for life on the go

Quick & easy. Stacks of healthy veg. Low in fat, carbs and calories and PERFECT for meal prep – these five recipes will transform your mid-week eats. Tap the images to give them a try!

Cauli Rice Salad Bowls