We all have those days when we need more than 24 hours just to get things done. Every time you look at the clock, another hour has passed! The biggest struggle for me on days like this is food. What am I going to eat? Here are some tips to save time and stay healthy!
- Cooking Prep!
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Before we begin, you need some items. I have a list of staple food items I keep in my refrigerator that are extremely versatile. These include:
Fruits and veggies like bananas, blueberries, peppers, sugar snap peas, carrots and strawberries, etc.
Frozen versions of those mentioned above as well!
Bread—keep it in the freezer, it lasts longer!!
Eggs
Yogurt or cottage cheese
Cheese—any type you prefer! I love Provolone.
Pasta, rice or quinoa
Tuna
Protein powder—you can use it in so many things!
That is a very basic list, but it’ll get you started!
- The Most Important Meal of The Day!
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Breakfast is so important!! I cannot function properly if I don’t eat in the morning. I struggle to focus during class (7:30s every morning….ahaha). I enjoy something sweet when I wake up. I’ll have Greek yogurt or cottage cheese with fruit and granola or chia seeds on top! This takes less than 5 minutes to throw together.
If you prefer something savory, eggs would be a good route for you to take. Toast a couple pieces of bread and add a couple slices of cheese. Then fry, scramble, or sunny-side-up some eggs! My number one favorite seasoning for my eggs is Everything But The Bagel seasoning. You can find that at any grocery store! This will take a little longer because of the cooking time but no more than 10 minutes!
One more tip: if you’re a coffee addict like me, set your coffee to brew at a specific time, or set your Keurig up the night before! It saves so much time!
- Lunch Break!
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I like savory at lunch. I will cut up a bunch of vegetables like zucchini or onion, and sauté them in a pan with spinach and some eggs. I’ll have a piece of bread with this and some cherry tomatoes, carrots, or sugar snap peas. Takes around 15 minutes to make, but that is mostly cook time for the vegetables.
If you want something sweet at lunch, I go for a smoothie! Any type of frozen berries will do! I like blueberries and strawberries. I’ll add soy milk or yogurt, whatever I feel like at that moment! My other ingredient is chocolate protein powder. It makes the smoothie taste a little like a milkshake and I love that. It also provides a good source of protein which will keep you full longer! This takes 5-10 minutes depending on how cooperative your blender is that day.
- Dinner–the day is almost done!
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Cooking is probably the last thing you want to do at the end of the day, but if you can boil some water, you’re solid. Pasta or rice are my go-to choices when I need something for dinner. They take 8-10 minutes depending on the type you get, and you usually have some left over for the next day! Pair it with a protein like tuna or chicken, which you can get already cooked at the grocery store. Take some of the frozen vegetables out of the freezer and microwave them as the bag instructs. Usually, no longer than 5 minutes. Overall, this meal should only take 15 minutes and it’s so simple but very delicious! Add some olive oil and seasoning to the veggies to give them a little more flavor!
One last tip: most of these meals can be eaten at any time of the day. There is no designated correct food for each time of the day. Do whatever works for you and your schedule! Happy cooking!