A busy woman's guide to healthy eating

I’m probably a little biased, but I think that women are amazing.  We juggle school, family, work, friends, volunteer service, and so much more.

It’s probably safe to say that we run the world.

Since ruling the world is kind of a big job, it’s often difficult to find the time to take care of ourselves by following a healthy diet.

Unfortunately, neglecting ourselves means that we won’t be able to sustain our busy lifestyles for very long.   Consider it your duty as a woman to take care of your body by following these simple tips.

1.  Prepare meals in advance.

Hopefully, there is at least an hour or two each week when you’re not completely slammed with responsibilities.  Use that time to prepare healthy dishes for the week ahead.  You can make a big batch of steel cut oatmeal and portion it out by storing it in individual containers.   You’ll love this baked carrot cake oatmeal recipe and this one for healthy coconut oatmeal.  Also grill some chicken breasts to add to salads or sandwiches for some quick and easy lunches and dinners.

2.  Make large dishes that yield lots of leftovers.

Consider your slow cooker to be your new best friend.  You can make chili, soup, casseroles, and many other dishes that can feed an army for days.   Some of my favorite slow cooker recipes are wine & tomato braised chicken, crock pot sesame honey chicken, and slow cooker chili.

3.  Keep a veggie tray in your refrigerator at all times.

One of my favorite tips is to keep a tray in the fridge that is loaded with fresh sliced vegetables, such as celery, carrots, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and sugar snap peas.  It really comes in handy in a pinch!  Feeling creative?  Check out this article for ideas on how to assemble an awesome vegetable platter.

4.  Always have healthy snacks in your purse.

When we allow ourselves to get too hungry, we usually end up overeating and/or reaching for something that is extremely unhealthy (and often void of nutritional value).  Carry snacks like nutrition bars (be sure to choose ones with natural ingredients!), raw walnuts, and dried or fresh fruit to avoid turning to something that you will later regret eating.

5.  Drink lots of water.

I know that this advice gets thrown out there all of the time, but drinking water really is so important when it comes to our overall health.  It keeps us energized, prevents us from overeating, helps our kidneys, and gives us beautiful skin.  Make it a habit to keep a bottle with you at all times and fill it up throughout the day.  If you think that drinking plain water is boring, see our list of 10 easy ways to flavor your water.