How I streamline my nutrition for a busy week

Being busy and making healthy choices don’t always go hand in hand. It’s very common that when life gets hectic with work, family and personal commitments, our nutrition can take a backseat.

A phrase which always stuck with me while studying my nutrition degree was: “how can we make the healthy choice, the easy choice?”

Our brains have a massive workload, and are always looking to conserve energy where possible (in other words: the easy option is often the most attractive option). If we can align our food choices to work WITH this, rather than against it, maintaining your healthy habits can be so much easier.

I love this because it’s a powerful reminder that being healthy doesn’t have to be so complicated.

Here are five ways that I streamline my nutrition during a busy week:

1. Bulk Prep Breakfast
   
   I’ll have the same breakfast every day during the week and I’ll prep as much as I can in advance. For example, I’ll make one of the granola recipes from Deliciously Balanced Breakfasts and add Greek yogurt and fresh fruit in the morning.
   
   Time to make breakfast each day = 30 seconds.
   

2. Plan Ahead
   
   Planning your meals in advance will help to save you time and money, and remove the last minute panic of “what’s for dinner?” I use my digitally-editable meal planner (it’s free) and usually do this on a Sunday. You could also order groceries online which is often a great money and time saver too.
   
   Time to plan meals for the week = 5 minutes.
   

3. Cook Once, Eat Twice (or more)
   
   Name a better feeling than getting home from a busy day, knowing that dinner is already cooked and waiting for you. Once a week, I’ll usually make one of the larger serve recipes from Deliciously Balanced Dinners such as: slow-cooked devilled sausages, cosy cottage pie or nourishing chilli. We typically get 2-3 dinners or lunches during the week and sometimes freeze another portion for a future busy week.
   
   Time to make dinner = most meals in DBD take 30 minutes or less. Some of the bigger ones or slow-cooked recipes can take longer.
   

4. No-Fuss Lunches
   
   If lunch takes more than 5 minutes to prepare, I’d probably rather buy something - is the attitude I typically have during a busy week (which to be honest is most weeks). My mid-week lunches often look like: dinner leftovers / eggs on toast / fried halloumi with pre-made salad / balanced sandwich (formula in Deliciously Balanced Lunch) / avo + cottage cheese on toast.
   
   Time to make lunch = 5 minutes.
   

5. Protein Snacks On Hand
   
   For the particularly chaotic days when I may have longer gaps between meals, or I’m hungrier for whatever reason, it can be helpful to keep a protein-based snack on hand. My go-to’s at the moment are: a protein bar or Greek yogurt + berries.
   
   Time to prep snacks = 10 seconds.
   

As always, remember to be compassionate with yourself if things don’t go to plan. It’s so important to be flexible with your nutrition choices and allow room for the foods you enjoy too.

Disclaimer: this blog is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace individual medical advice. For more support please always seek the guidance of your relevant health practitioners.