Are These Two Roadblocks Keeping YOU From Eating Healthy?
Knowing we need to eat better is not a new idea! It’s the doing it that gets ya!
We all understand that we need to eat healthy to be healthy.
No matter how good your intentions might be if you don’t take care of these two roadblocks to eating healthy you may find yourself stuck in a rut of bad eating habits.
Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
The two biggest roadblocks to overcome to eating better is TIME and MONEY.
As a busy mom, you know how crazy, hectic your life can be. You’ve got all these things to do and only 24 hours 7 days a week to do them right?
Time. It doesn’t wait for anyone. But we can make the best of the time we do have 😉
6 Tips To BEAT The Clock!
Here are 6 tips to help you stay focused and make the most of the time you do have:
- Meal Prep
- Take my food with me.
- Plan out meals for the week.
- Grocery Shop Once
- Keep a running list on your fridge of items you run out of or need
- Keep a list of lunch/snack/meal ideas you have tried and like
Meal Prep Tips:
There are many ways to meal prep. A quick Google search and you will quickly be drowned in ideas of how to meal prep.
Instead of sharing all the ways, I am going to share with you what is currently working for us.
Step 1: Pick a day to make your grocery list.
Use the method below to save time and money.
- Thursday and or Friday, my husband (who is amazing!!) sits down and goes through deals on his app (Ipad app called Flipp-its free!) or the physical flyer/deals. He grabs the list off of our fridge of things we need and makes a super organized grocery list. Then he shops for the food while I work.
- At some point that same day, we sit down together going over what meals, snacks, etc. We can make out of this list and add in whatever else needs to be picked up. We try to plan our food for the entire week.
- Shop ONCE! This not only saves numerous runs to the grocery store, saving time. It also saves us money. Bonus!
- Sunday is our Meal Prepping Day! I enjoy this, we cook all our lunches for the week at once if possible. Chopping up veggies, cooking up the protein, and carbs. We invested in some containers that we can grab and go. It is amazing for saving time. Everything is cooked, measured, cooled, and labeled in the fridge ready to go!
On crazy busy days, especially when I work mornings meal prep is a huge time saver. I can grab my lunch bag, a freezer pack, my lunch/snack containers, water-tossing the items in the bag and go out the door. No stress, no mess. I am set!
There is no excuse not to take care of ME.
If you making healthy meals is a challenge, you’ll want to create a recipe binder filled with quick and easy meals for busy moms.
How To Overcome The Mindset VS Money:
Have you ever noticed the price of “healthy food”? And don’t get me started on the organic food! UGH!
It took an “Ah-ha” moment before it all clicked.
Mindset is funny that way. Sometimes we have to see the same thing over and over before it clicks.
The key turning point for me was this: 1 large bag of chips vs 1 large bag of apples.
They were both $5.00 BUT that one bag of chips was one snack for me and the kids.
That bag of apples? Well, it would do almost a week of snacks, after all, I wasn’t going to eat a whole bag of apples myself. I do love apples, but not that much!
Then I compared to how eating those foods made me feel.
As someone who struggles with self-confidence and food sensitivities. The way I FEEL when I eat is important to me.
Chips made me feel dehydrated, bloated, and just plain GROSS after polishing off one of those, with help of course!
Apples made me feel good. I was full for a little bit but even better I didn’t feel sick, dehydrated or gross at all.
Yes I realize this is not the first time you have heard this reasoning, and yes it sounds like basic common sense to most people BUT I had to work hard to change my mindset. Do you?
7 Tips To BEAT the Bank!
Here are a few of my favorite ways to save money:
- Shop the flyers, compare and save money.
- Use a list! And STICK TO IT. Within reason, if there is an “in-store only” sale, and it is an item you keep in stock or use often, go for it. However, picking up “extra” items costs money.
- Buy in bulk if possible. You can store and freeze in your family size needs. This saves both time and money as you can reach in and know you have enough for your family in that bag/container.
- Most products are cheaper when not in a lot of packaging. Ie. Small boxes of raisins are more expensive than a bag of raisins in the baking aisle. Package them into servings sizes on your own will save money and the environment.
- Buy fresh veggies and fruits when in season. They are better for you and are usually cheaper.
- Frozen veggies according to research (Eating Well and ABC News just to cite two) are just as healthy for you as fresh. Always check the ingredients for additives.
- Shop where you can get bonus points or loyalty points, for basic items on your list (think Airmiles programs or PC points etc). The trick is not to buy extra just because it will get you more points. BUT if an item is the same price at both places and you are going to buy it anyway those points can add up to extra rewards.
We find these small adjustments we found made a big difference in saving both time and money. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard, but it is an adjustment and takes effort.
You ARE worth it!
Do you and your family have any tips to keep on track while eating healthy? I’d love to know, let’s chat!
If you need more help with Meal Prepping be sure to read: How To Meal Prep To Save Your Family Time And Money
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Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!
