You can’t predict every situation that life will throw at you–especially in the summer months. But good planning skills will help you to live your life in the moment without sacrificing your health goals! This month I’m sharing some tips to help you learn to plan ahead for a healthier lifestyle.
Have you found yourself making compromises during the busy summer months? We’ve all been there. When you’re out with friends, taking your kids to their countless summer activities, or on an impromptu outing with the family, it’s easy to just give up and say ‘I’ll do better tomorrow.’ And to some extent, that’s a healthy response!
It’s All About Balance
I’m all about balance, and sometimes it’s good to let go of goals and just live in the moment. But I also believe that a healthy lifestyle can be a part of that balance! By learning better planning skills, you can embrace even the most unexpected situations with open arms, knowing that your healthy lifestyle is still on track for success. So let’s talk about how you can plan ahead for a healthier, happier lifestyle!
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Create an Emergency Kit
No, I don’t just mean a first aid kit–although you should carry one of those with you, too.
When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, a lot of ‘failures’ are just a matter of necessity or convenience. If you wake up late and don’t have time to make yourself a nutritious breakfast, you’ll probably be tempted to grab a sugary granola bar or stop by your favorite drive-thru coffee spot. That’s where your emergency kit comes into play!
Keep a tote bag or small cooler in your car with essentials that fit your goals. Water bottles are important, and you’ll also want to have some nutritious, shelf-stable snacks on hand. Always plan with your PFC balance in mind: choose foods that have a good balance of Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrates. For instance, you may choose to keep some beef/salmon jerky and some freeze-dried fruit to get the right balance of all three.
Your kit will be customized to your personal needs. If you know that you‘ll be running around in hot weather, and concerned about dehydration, keep an electrolyte mix in your kit. Love eggs? Pack some hard-boiled eggs. If you have a great, macro-balanced protein shake, pack a portion of the powder and a blender bottle. And if you have picky kids to think about, keep in mind that when they’re already hungry, they may be pickier than usual–choose foods that you know they will eat.
Get Creative with Planned Events
When you’re making plans, you may not always think ahead about how those plans will affect your health goals. It will take some time to form the habit of planning ahead for these situations, so give yourself grace!
At the beginning of each week, look at your calendar and think about which events incorporate food or overlap with meals. If you’re going to the theater, dinner won’t typically be included with the show, but you may need to plan to eat while you’re out. Talk to the others you’ll be out with ahead of time and suggest a few restaurant options that you know will have menu items that suit you. On the other hand, if you’re going to a picnic and you know they’re only serving foods that you don’t like–or foods that don’t align with your health goals–you should plan to bring something you will want to eat. Plan to pack a cooler with picnic-friendly foods so that you can live in the moment and enjoy the picnic to the fullest. Maybe even bring some to share 🙂
Learn How to Order Off of Any Menu
Speaking of restaurants–knowing how to choose food that is both nutritious and delicious while dining out is a valuable skill. It takes time to learn, but you will feel empowered to live a joyful life when you know how to order foods that will make you feel good no matter where you’re eating.
Start with the tenets of PFC eating: protein, fat, and carbs. Learn which ‘basic’ foods you like: do you prefer chicken, beef, fish, eggs, or tofu as your protein? Which sources of healthy fats are your favorites? What veggies do you love? And how do you prefer your food prepared–grilled, roasted, or baked? Keep these questions in mind while you look at any menu and you’ll find it easier to wade through the options.
You should also get comfortable with asking about making tweaks to the menu to suit your needs. Don’t see a dish with the PFC balance you want? Ask about adding a side of sauteed shrimp or grilled chicken. See one that looks yummy, but sounds like it might be drowning in sauce? Ask for the sauce on the side. Most restaurants are happy to accommodate!
At the end of the day, remember that you don’t have to give up great-tasting food for the sake of your health. My goal is to help you learn to incorporate delicious, nutritious foods into your life! Want to know more about how PFC can help you do that? Jump into one of my programs for resources and support!
DAWN MCGEE
Dawn McGee is a certified and licensed Nutrition Evangelist and a long-time foodie, she focuses on both the health and joy of food as fuel for your body. She is a driving force in bringing education on healthy eating to more people through her community, my “Reclaim Your Life, One Bite at a Time” programs, and my book “365 Days of Healthy Living”. Her hope for you is that you live a life you love, without being hungry, feeling deprived, or giving up your glass
