One of the most challenging, yet most important things to learn is how to eat well with a packed schedule. If you’re rushing to get the kids out the door, get to work, meetings, and then get the kids to take them to after-school activities, you probably forget to eat sometimes.

Either that, or you stop and pick up something that may not be as healthy as it can be. That leaves many people asking, “What should I eat when I’m constantly on the go?”

That’s a great question that we’re going to answer here. Keep reading to learn how you can eat great, even when you’re running around all day. 

What to Eat on the Go?

What should I eat? That’s a tough question to answer when you’re starving and you only have a few minutes to grab something quick. Here are some ideas that you can do easily, even when you’re under the pressure of time.

Limit Processed Foods

Scientists have been trying to figure out the reason why processed foods make us gain weight. One recent study says it’s because we consume more calories when we eat processed foods. If you take a look at the label of some products, you’ll find that one serving is more than 200 calories and that serving is only a bite or two.

Keep processed foods out of the equation and go for whole foods that are nutrient dense. Vegetables, rice, fruit, sweet potatoes, and proteins (legumes or meats).

Fruit and Peanut Butter

This is a simple fix to have a healthy snack wherever you are.

Sandwich or a Wrap

If you have to make a quick stop and grab something on the go, a sandwich or a wrap is a good choice.

Rice Cakes with Hummus or Nut Butters

A filling snack on the go can be a couple of rice cakes with a small amount of hummus or a nut butter on them.

Protein Bar or Shake

If you want an easy snack that’s mess-free and convenient, look no further than a protein bar or protein shake. You want to make sure that you consume these sparingly. These aren’t meant to be full on meal replacements, just a snack to get you through times in-between meals.

Cut Up Veggies

A great way to get more veggies in your diet is to pack a bag or container full of cut up veggies like celery, carrots, or peppers.

Fruit and Cottage Cheese or Yogurt

This is a good snack to have on the go. You can take frozen fruit like blueberries and add them to a cup of cottage cheese or yogurt.

Remember, carbs are not the enemy. Carbohydrates are actually good for you and it’s what your body wants and needs. Your snacks can and should include carbohydrates to keep you fueled all day give you the energy that you need.

What You Drink Matters, Too

When you’re on the go, it’s easy to grab a quick sports drink or coconut water, thinking that they’re healthy. Surprise! These drinks can be full of sugar, too.

You can stick with water as much as possible, and if you go for something with flavor, check the labels.

Tips to Eat Healthy on the Go

How can you eat healthy when you’re going all day? It’s not always easy, but follow these tips and start to incorporate them into your routine.

Always Read the Labels

As busy as you may be, you have to check the labels of your food. The reason why is because a lot of foods are still filled with sugar and other less-than-desirable ingredients.

Take peanut butter, for example. You’d think that the ingredients should be peanuts and sometimes salt. That’s not always the case. Some peanut butters have sugar, palm oils, and other ingredients that you can’t pronounce.

Other “healthy” foods such as yogurt, protein bars, shakes, and veggie snacks can have things like sugars and other things added to them. Your job is to read the labels and know what you’re buying.  

Plan Ahead as Much as Possible

The one thing that you can do to eat healthy on the go is to plan ahead. If you know that you’re going to be on the go all day, plan out your snacks and always have something with you.

You can keep a small cooler in your car with a couple of ice packs to keep your food from going bad in the car.

Make Good Choices

When you’re hungry and in a hurry, it’s hard to make a healthy choice. Your options may be limited with vending machines full of sodas and candy.

You can make smart choices by seeking out a Healthy You Vending machine, which is full of healthy snacks. That can make your options much healthier. 

Control Portion Sizes

Some of the snack foods listed above are calorie dense, meaning that you can easily overeat and pack on more calories, even though you eat healthy.

Peanut butter has about 188 calories for two tablespoons. Let’s face it, who really eats only two tablespoons of peanut butter?

Foods that have a high amount of healthy fats, tend to be calorie dense. Hummus, nuts, and nut butters can add up if you don’t control your portion sizes.

What Should I Eat When on the Go?

We have more reasons than ever to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The bottom line is that what we eat could be making us very, very sick. It’s hard to eat healthy when you’re on the go because there are so many convenient options that aren’t healthy.

However, answering the question “What should I eat on the go?” in a healthy way is possible with a little planning and making smart choices.

Are you ready for more great health tips? Read this to find out how you can lose weight, even if you work in the foodservice industry.