We all know that I love to run. And lately (well, until Snowzilla arrived), I’ve gotten back into my old gym habit of elliptical and weights. But judging by the way my jeans are fitting and the number on the scale, the saying “you can’t out exercise a bad diet” is definitely a fitting one around here. It’s not necessarily that I’m eating unhealthy foods, it’s more that I’m eating too much in general and far from a balanced diet. Marathon training definitely played a role, but what has really brought the issue to a head is being busier in the evenings. Two to three nights a week I am out at dinner time for practices, rehearsals and social activities. I’m eating at odd times and I’m grabbing whatever is convenient, which usually means way too many simple carbs and not nearly enough in the fruit and vegetable department.
I need to get this under control, so here are some simple changes I’m making to get back on track before serious training (and soccer season, sigh) get back in swing.
- Plan your meals – I mean this both in the traditional meal planning sense, but also in the “when will I eat today” sense. I do this with my running and other workouts, why wouldn’t I do this with my eating on days when I have a billion conference calls and a soccer practice that takes me away from home for almost 3 hours? Some days this will mean I eat 4 small meals instead of my usual 3 meals, but it has to be an improvement over grazing all afternoon and then being starving when I get home from practice.
- Make your own freezer meals – On busy days, I often don’t have the energy to cook a real meal when we get home. Sometimes I need to feed all of us, sometimes I need to just feed me. I’m starting to save leftovers into different sized portions in the freezer. I’ve also pre-cooked some meats and will be keeping more prepped veggies in the fridge and freezer.
- Harness technology – Thanks to Kohls, I just got an Instant Pot – combination pressure cooker/rice maker/slow cooker. Seriously, people, this thing is amazing! The other night I cooked a package of mixed dry beans in 45 minutes WITHOUT presoaking the beans. That’s right. Dried beans to edible in 45 minutes!
Then I threw the beans back in the pot with the makings for veggie chili, set it on slow cook for 6 hours, and went about my day. Bam! Veggie chili for dinner from scratch. (Stop by Monday for the recipe!)
Follow my Instant Pot board on Pinterest for more ideas!
- Pay a little extra – I know we all want to save money, but if buying precut veggies or grabbing salad fixings from the salad bar means that you’ll actually eat said veggies – DO IT! It’s still cheaper than most fast food places and it’s a lot healthier!
- Pack some healthy snacks – Life doesn’t always go as planned, especially in an area where an inch of snow can result in a 6 hour commute. (Gotta love DC…) I try to always have almonds, dried fruit, and water with me and I stash a box of healthy-ish snack bars in my car. Eating a small snack BEFORE I get ravenous means I’m much more likely to pull that healthy meal out of the fridge or freezer when I get home rather than stopping at a fast food place on the way home.
My goal is that by planning my healthy meals and having them ready and waiting that I can get back to my comfort zone before serious mileage begins. It’s easier to run when I’m not dragging an extra 10-15 pounds around with me.
Want a chance to take a little shopping spree in Kohl’s Healthy Cooking section as well? Kohls is providing a $100 gift card for one of my readers! Enter below! And if you can’t wait to find out if you won, make sure to use the following codes:
• 1/29-2/3 $10 off $50 home purchase with Promo Code HOME10
• 1/29-1/30 20% off using promo code FORYOU20 (2 days only)
These codes can be stacked! (I love the sales codes from Kohls!)
[Tweet “Want to win a @Kohls $100 gift card? Enter to win @mcmmama’s giveaway! #KohlsHomeSale #kohlsFit #sponsored “]
Disclaimer: Kohls provided me with a gift card to do some shopping. They are also providing the giveaway gift card.
I usually throw together a whole wheat pasta with whatever veggies I have in the fridge 🙂
That looks delicious. One of my favorite healthy meals is definitely shrimp tacos but with lettuce as the taco shells. So fast and delicious every single time!
I have been doing brown rice bowl. 1/2c brown rice, lean ground beef, diced tomoato and salsa. So good and fills me up
I like to make some grilled fish tostadas. Easy to thaw the fish out from the freezer, the grilling happens in foil packets for easy clean up, and they are yummy!
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I’m a huge fan of brinner, breakfast for dinner, and have been known to cook up some old fashioned oatmeal in the evening. Something else I like to do is microwave a monster sweet potato!
Lately, I have enjoyed a toasted english muffin, baked egg, and melty slice of cheese…yum! Quick and filling 🙂 I need to find a way to meal prep these because they ARE quick, but I would like to make them more grab-and-go style 🙂
The Instant Pot sounds interesting. I already have a crockpot (well, 3 in various sizes) and a rice cooker and had both going the other day to make dinner!
Great tips.
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Turkey meatballs in the crockpot are my favorite fast and healthy meal!
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I love making easy soups on the weekend and freezing them. A quick warm-up during the week is super-easy and super-good. (PS: you are welcome for my exclusion of the obvious pun!!!!!)
A food salad
A veggie casserole is my favorite fast and healthy meal.
My favorite fast and healthy meal is veggie casadiea.
We love crock pot chilis and soups around here! I have not tried the combo crockpot and pressure cooker that would be on my list if I won
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Yaktrax & Snowshoes tips & tricks
I love making burrito bowls with quinoa, beans, and veggies.
The Instant Pot sounds amazing and I like cooking up my dinners fast. I like using my NuWave to make the best healthiest skinless chicken that I can cook a breast in like 10 minutes. I also like my own sweet potato fries that are so easy to make.
I love my crock pot, but I’ve been hearing more and more about these instant pots and they sound really amazing! I can’t pick just one healthy meal, but I’m a huge fan of Skinnytaste, and I love her cookbook.
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I love grilled fish and veggies.
I like quinoa avocado rice.
My Favorite Fast And Easy Meal Is Vegetable Soup.
I would have to go with boneless skinless chicken breast and cabbage, roasted to perfection.
I love tossing chicken breasts into a crock pot with homemade pico de gallo. TACOS! I don’t generally use tortillas so I serve my taco meat over salad greens! SUPER yummy and healthy!
My favorite quick healthy meal is tacos. It’s been my favorite food since I was a little kid. Sometimes it’s veggie tacos, sometimes it’s chicken or pork. Whole wheat tortillas or in a lettuce wrap or as a salad.
great tips! i especially love what you said about paying a little more sometimes for convenience. so true. my favorite quick and easy meal are sweet potato and black bean enchiladas 🙂
My favorite quick and healthy meal is a salad
making a yummy smoothie is my favorite fast meal!
My favorite fast & healthy meal are turkey wraps! I cook a turkey breast in the slow-cooker ahead of time, just grab some veggies and wrap it up. Super simple and good for you.
It’s not fast since it takes about 90 minutes to cook, but I make lentil curry and simmer it for a while – it makes a huge batch so I have a ton of leftovers and THOSE are fast, healthy, and tasty.
“homemade” pizza with flatbread, bottled sauce, shredded mozzarella and a little olive oil and basil. Fast and easy and never goes to waste! Yes!
I’m not much of a healthy eater or cook – so I’ll say spinach quiche.
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I think my favorite fast and healthy meal this time of year is Chicken tortilla soup. Minimal cutting, just open a few cans of things pour them in, and let it cook. Takes 30 minutes and makes a full batch of soup!
I love making anything with rotisserie chicken…tacos or tostadas are my family’s favorites.
I like making turkey black bean chili
Oh if we need a quick healthy meal…I usually put ground chicken or turkey patties on the George Foreman grill! I love making lettuce wraps around them instead of using buns!
I love roasting a big pan of root veggies and potatoes. They’re good by themselves or as a side and then leftovers are great on a big salad for lunch or dinner.
We like a taco salad for something quick.
Vegetable Soup.
My favorite in Fast healthy meal is a homemade whole wheat pizza.
i love lentils and quinoa!
Veggie quesadillas!
My favorite fast/healthy meal is a baked sweet potato stuffed with onions, tomato, basil and chicken!
We love making salads and pasta with shrimp
I make lots of eggs– omlettes, scrambles, etc. with lots of veggies!
I have a meal we call Cabbage Rice that’s very quick and easy to make and doesn’t take long to cook
I like to make fish tacos.
Avocado Toast is my favorite. Had it at a trendy new vegetarian restaurant recently and now I’m obsessed!
I love easy crockpot chili or pulled pork in the crockpot.
The salads at Chick Fil-A are my favorite healthy “fast” food!
Spaghetti and parmesan is my favorite quick and healthy food./
My fast meal is skinless chicken cut up with chopped veggies and stir fry in a wok in peanut oil.
Serve with instant rice.
I love anything crock pot made.
roasted vegetable medley and chicken
My favorite fast meal is snacking on fruit.
We like oatmeal and fruit.
When we are looking for fast and healthy we usually do some type of chicken stirfry in the wok.
Taco Salad! It’s so easy to put together and my whole family loves it.
I like making small super salads
I like to make a quick omlette with veggies.
I like a good chicken Caesar salad for a quick healthy meal.
My favorite is strawberry topped pancakes. I love the fruit!
My favorite quick and healthy meal is chicken or shrimp stir fry. I love lots of veggies and there are so many sauces to experiment with!
My favorite easy to make lunch is a chef salad.
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My Favorite Fast And Easy Meal is Chicken Salad
My favorite quick and healthy meal is a salad with fresh veggies from my garden.
I love making a veggie-packed strawberry/cranberry/chocolate smoothie!
I’m a big fan of making taco salads, with greek yogurt and avocado as the “dressing” 🙂
veggie omelets are a go to fast and healthy meal for me!
Crockpot lasagna
Pizza!
I love to eat a nice fruit salad with cottage cheese and granola topping.
I love turkey chili! So easy and delicious.
My favorite fast and healthy meal is shredded chicken tacos.
I love Chicken soup.. Especially when I am sick!
My favorite fast meal is an omelet.
Quinoa with sauteed shrimp. Quick, easy and simple!
I really like protein shakes with avocado!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
We love doing ground turkey tacos with lots of fresh veggies! It’s a staple at our house these days!
sauteed chick peas, garlic and broccoli is one of my fave meals
I love the versatility of panini sandwiches: everything tastes a little better with a little melty cheese and toasty bread.
We love tacos with guacamole and salsa.
I love to make pinwheels with veggies, meat and sunflower seeds.
I like to make smoothies for a quick meal
shrimp, in garlic sauce, with pasta, broccoli.
I am currently obsessed with spaghetti squash which is very fast to cook in the microwave! It’s great topped with a marinara or any healthy sauce or veggies.
Sloppy Joes are the easiest and best!
I would have to say making a salad is my favorite fast and healthy meal.
Great tips!!
Wowsers that is a fancy appliance! #jealous
My quickest go to is usually a Amy burrito with the second being chips/salsa/guac.
My favorite Is a quick tuna salad wrap with lettuce and tomato!
I love salads with chicken, ham or turkey. I usually use romaine lettuce, shredded cheese, sliced olives, grated carrots and cucumber.
My favorite quick and healthy meal vegetable stir fry over brown rice.
I like chicken salad.
Stir fry with shrimp
I like turkey sandwiches!
One of my favorite fast and healthy meals is a veggie stir fry. I use broccoli, cauliflower, green peppers, onions and zucchini. 🙂
My twitter handle is @bbarnes3489. I did not enter it correctly and I am unable to edit the widget. Thank you.
My favorite fast, and healthy meal is a grilled chicken wrap 🙂
My favorite is a salad
I love making quesadillas
We just became non meat eaters. Only because of our love for animals. We do eat seafood.
A pita pizza!
I really enjoy eating salads. They are my go to with grilled chicken.
I love a quick omelet loaded with veggies and a side of fruit.
I like making chicken stir fry. Takes 20 min!
My favorite is Grill Pan Chicken with White BBQ Sauce. Thanks.
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We love to do breakfast for dinner! Super easy and always a hit!
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Great tips!! Snowzilla turned me into Carbzilla — I need to get my diet back on track after last week, for sure!!
A big salad or veggie soup!
Fast and healthy meal? Do those exist? 🙂
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A teriyaki chicken stir fry with broccoli, onions, carrots, and peppers.
I love grilling turkey or chicken thighs and adding with pesto and parmesan cheese to a cooked spaghetti squash. filling and yummy
Vegetable stir fry is fast healthy meal
Balsamic Chicken in the crockpot:)
My favorite fast and healthy meal is to throw a batch of Chicken and Vegetable Soup in my slow cooker in the morning and its ready by dinner!
My favorite is a big salad with some grilled chicken.
Whole wheat pasta (or banza) and a simple tomato sauce! With a side salad. Quick and easy.
I love eating tuna salad.
I love making flatbread sandwiches
Oatmeal!
I love a quick granola bar and berry smoothie!
We love scrambled eggs with a side of fruit!
If I need something super quick I throw together a omelette with tons of veggies!
I love a granola bar and berry smoothie!
I like to whip up a nice omelette
i love oatmeal
Mine would be a peanut butter sandwich, vanilla yogurt, grapes, string cheese and almonds.
My favorite healthy meal is boneless chicken grilled and topped with an avocado salsa
avocado wraps are my favorite
I like a berry smoothie or a ham sandwich!
I love grilled steak fajitas with peppers and tomatoes
One of my go to healthy meals is baked tilapia! I can take the filets from the freezer, then sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and a little olive oil, and bake at 375!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Paninis or soup!
Salad with tuna on top.
Grilled chicken and veggies.
Has a winner been selected?
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Yes, I’m waiting for them to respond with their address.