Are you too busy for lunch?
Second to breakfast lunch is our most important meal, and studies show that café meals are laden with calories. It’s actually quicker to pop into a supermarket, grab a pre-made salad, a wholemeal roll and some deli meats than to wait in line at the local café! (Don’t forget to grab an apple for the afternoon)
Skimping on nutrients at lunch leads to sugar cravings in the afternoon and over eating at night, not the ideal scenario for health and fitness. Here are some easy ideas for busy people.
Studies show that few people are taking the traditional lunch hour and many have rushed lunch breaks at their desk. While this may seem great for productivity if you rush or skip lunch on a regular basis you will be robbing yourself of important health benefits.
Taking time to eat a healthy lunch is an important part of weight control, stress management and is critical in maintaining energy levels throughout the rest of the day. Investing a short amount of time at the beginning of the week to organise lunch will give you massive returns in energy and vitality. Get into the habit of stocking the fridge at home or work with fresh salad ingredients and fruit. In the evening cook extra root vegetables like pumpkin, potato, kumara or rice and pasta. These make excellent fillings for salads. Keep a selection of low fat gourmet dressings at the office, or if you are on the road find some single serve sachets or throw in a lemon wedge. Keeping plastic forks in your glove box is a lifesaver.
How eating the right lunch can help you lose more weight.
Investing a short amount of time at the beginning of the week to organise lunch will give you massive returns in energy and vitality. If you rush or skip lunch on a regular basis you will be robbing yourself of important health benefits. Studies show that the traditional lunch hour at work has diminished and many of us have rushed lunch breaks at our desk, in front of a computer or in the car. While this may seem great for productivity, in you could be sabotaging your weight loss plans and triggering mid-afternoon sugar cravings. Here are 10 easy lunch ideas.
What about winter?
A hearty bowl of soup earns all the ticks for healthy eating. Let’s face it, most of us don’t need a high calorie meal at the end of the day, so soup can help us in more ways than one. Soup is filling and warming, just what we need on a cold winter night. Soup is an easy way to eat more vegetables and preserve all of the nutrients. Make a hearty low GI soup with chickpeas, beans or lentils. Boost the healing power of your soup with herbs, spices and garlic. If you prepare your soup in advance or own a crock-pot, soup can be the ultimate fast food when you arrive home famished. Studies show that soups play an important role in successful weight management. Soup recipes here.
