Nutrition in a busy lifestyle

[cdmilton]

I am trying to figure out how to eat better and I am having a hard time because I go out to lunch every day with my coworkers and rarely have time in the evening to make a good healthy meal. I am looking for some suggestions on what to eat when I am out to lunch and what I can make quickly at home or pickup while I am on the go. I currently make strawberry/bannana smoothies for breakfast before leaving for work.

[rainbowgirl28]

I am trying to figure out how to eat better and I am having a hard time because I go out to lunch every day with my coworkers and rarely have time in the evening to make a good healthy meal. I am looking for some suggestions on what to eat when I am out to lunch and what I can make quickly at home or pickup while I am on the go. I currently make strawberry/bannana smoothies for breakfast before leaving for work.

Do you put any protein powder in the smoothies?

I like to make a big batch of something and then just eat the leftovers over the next couple days. Like I'll make a box of whole wheat pasta, throw in some tuna, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese. Or you could make a big batch of tuna or chicken salad and then have that around for sandwiches or whatever.

When you go out to eat, obviously try to avoid the greasiest foods, but really the biggest problem is portion sizes. You could get a box ahead of time and put half of your lunch in it when you first get it, or just don't eat the whole thing. The leftovers could be part of your dinner.

[cdmilton]

I don't currently use and protien powder. I should look into that.

Any other advice from those in the working world?

[ashcraftpv]

I, myself, am losing the battle against the healthy lunch. The best way to eat healthy for lunch is to brown bag it, that way the temptation to go out to eat is gone. If you do go out, opt for subway, blimpies, or another deli type place. I often have to grab something quick, and places with drive throughs don't have very many healthy options.

[souleman]

Chris, a lot of what you eat at lunch would depend on what you eat at night (supper). You are well toned and don't have to worry about the tonage that bad mid day eating can cause. If you are working out after school I believe you can do most of your carbs for lunch. Pastas and the like.The bad fat anytime of the day is not good which is going to keep you away from the Mac and Don's type restaurants. The trouble with our schedules are that we should be eating our major meals mid day and a light supper. I'm guessing you only get a half hour at lunch before you go back to teach so that option is hampered. The Subway's get tiring after a while but they are pretty healthy. If you are going to fix something to take to school to eat, the pasta things are pretty easy and good to do. One of my favorites is left over spaghetti. Salads with cheese, a lean meat, eggs and a light dressing are good food sources and they're not hard to make. You're at the age where you don't have to watch it as much as I do so you can formulate a diet that will be good for you and you won't mind eating it. The occasional #5 at Mac and Don's ain't gonna kill you. Protein powder in your case won't do much more for you than beef you up. However, as you look at and keep track of what you eat, if you find you're low on protein then shovel a couple of spoonfuls in your morning smoothy. I'd rather see you sit down at the table and have a good old bowl of cereal and a banana in the morning rather than the liquid breakfast on the run. Just my thoughts. Later...............Mike

[cdmilton]

Mike, not sure where you got the idea I was a teacher. Maybe because most of the HS coaches around are teachers. I actually do software development and I take LONG lunches! I need to get out of the office to clear my head.

I've been trying to eat smaller portions of less greasy items this past week and I feel pretty good. We usually end up going to places like Applebees, Friday's, Champps. With going out to lunch I am not very hungry for dinner since it usually results in being a bigger meal. The wife doesn't get the novelty for going out for lunch so she is usually very hungry come dinner time and I end up eating a full meal then also.

[souleman]

Well I'll Be! Yep, I guess I figured as coach, you were a teacher too. My bad. That big lunch and then coming home deal is a tough one. I've been down that road a time or two in my life also. It's always been a killer for me weight wise when I've gotten into that routine. What I've been doing, and granted I'm a lot older than you so it works differently for me , is I kind of keep an eye on calories. After 30 years of not doing it, I've started eating breakfast everyday. Usually a bowl of cereal. When I'm rushed, I'll take a small bag of animal crackers and a banana to work for breakfast. Lunch for me is a smaller version of leftovers from the night before, or soup and a sandwich, something like that. Then Kay and I have a nice supper. I've found if I watch the calories and the types of foods (I'm not mental about this) that I eat I stay pretty much where I've been for the last 2 years. For me I have to stay around 2000 calories or below or I blow up like a balloon. Everyone that I've talked to about the nutrition end of it says that if you don't think you're getting enough of the right stuff, a vitamin and meneral supplement will normally pick up the slack. My point is to be as consistant as you can with your diet. It's not as important at your age but as you get older (and if you want to keep doing this) it will become more and more imporant. Later........Mike