How To Save Time Eating Healthy

I think one of the biggest reasons people get hung up on eating healthy (and shy away from it) is that they feel it’s super inconvenient and time consuming. You have to plan out recipes, make a grocery list, shop, prep and cook the food–and then you have to actually be home enough to eat the food you’ve cooked (honestly, I’m the worst at this)!

It can be expensive, it can be boring. I don’t think people choose to eat poor diets because they don’t know any better–it just doesn’t seem practical for day-to-day life. Do you feel that?

If that sounds like you, you’re definitely not alone. Unlike other nutritionists, I personally don’t like to meal prep (beyond the tips I list here) and I don’t like to have a lot of cooked food in the fridge–my schedule is busy and often I won’t eat it. I also don’t like feeling like I’m missing on going out with friends because I want to eat well. After all, social connection is also incredibly important for good health.

But I’ve learned along the way some quick + easy tips to make healthy eating that much easier and attainable. These are the tips that I use to make healthy eating a practical part of my life, so that I don’t have to sacrifice my lifestyle in order to nourish my body!

Alright, lets dive in.

1.Keep Your Pantry Well-Stocked

First things first, having a well-stocked pantry makes all the difference. Having things like canned chickpeas, lentils, spices, canned tomatoes, and bone broth (I love Kettle + Fire organic broth) means that you don’t have to always run out and grab things on the fly. (Also make sure you’re stocked with all the kitchen tool essentials). Want a full list of healthy pantry items to get? Download my free Healthy Kitchen Guide below:

2.Order Groceries Online

You can save so much time by simply having groceries sent to you! You can order non-perishable items (like coconut oil and almond flour) on Amazon, you can buy high-quality grass-fed meats at TruLocal, or you can order entire grocery orders on sites like Inabuggy, that allow you to shop from different groceries stores around the city.

3.Try A Meal Kit Delivery Service

If you want to have recipes already preportioned and take a little of the prep time/guess work out of it, meal kits (like HelloFresh CA, HelloFresh US, Good Food, and Sunbasket (US) can be a great option. You pick your recipes in advance, and they arrive at your door with prepped ingredients and a recipe card for quick and easy instructions. Stay tuned for my review on HelloFresh coming up in the next few weeks! If you want to try HelloFresh, right now they’re offering $40 off your first box, $20 off your second and $10 off your third!

4.Buy Partially Processed Foods

My favourite thing about grocery stores now is that they offer vegetables that are already semi-processed. Things like cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, and diced butternut squash all make your job so much easier. I love to take something like zucchini noodles, and toss it with a fresh premade pesto and some diced rotisserie chicken. The meal comes together in less than 10 minutes, and I can make enough to last a couple of days! Find other tips in this post How To Meal Prep (when you hate it).

5.Stock Up On Frozen Foods

Items like frozen berries and vegetables will keep in the freezer for a long time, so why not stock up for when you need it. I also like to keep frozen burgers, meatballs, and chicken in the freezer, that way I can come home and simply roast my frozen broccoli and chicken on one sheet pan and voila! Quick + easy dinner.

6. Make One Pot Meals + Soups

The quickest meals to make are the ones that you can throw into a pot and walk away from. Things like soup, stews, and curries are easy and don’t require a lot of your attention. I love to make pureed soups (cook in a pot and then blend together with your favourite blender) or put on a stew in the crockpot for the day.

Some of my favourite one-pot meals on TNM are:

Beet + Dill Lentils

Paleo Chicken Vindaloo

Aubergine Chickpea Stew with Mint + Apricots

Beet, Fennel + Apple Soup

7. Have A Roster Of Healthy Recipes

Sometimes it’s just nice to have some familiar go-to recipes that you can make without over thinking it. Aim to have 5-10 recipes in your repertoire that you know how to make, so you’re not always having to come up with something new. If you need inspiration, check out the 20 Healthy Cookbooks that will make you glow.

8. Batch Cook Your Recipes (+ Freeze It)

Work smarter, not harder. Instead of making something new every night, make enough that you can eat it for several nights. If you don’t like to eat the same thing a few days in a row (or aren’t home enough to have that option) freeze any leftovers so you’ll have something to eat the following week! Store your leftovers in glass takeout containers for easy access.

9. Go To Restaurants With Healthy Options

When eating in isn’t an option, try to eat at places that offer something nutritious on the menu. Most restaurants now I find have gluten-free and vegan options, and it’s usually not too hard to find a salad somewhere. I love to go to restaurants in Toronto that cater to what I like to eat for lunch and dinner (places like Impact Kitchen, Urban Herbivore and LOV are good go-tos). Often restaurants from other cultures tend to be healthier than pub fare, so opt to try something new: Middle Eastern, Mexican and Thai food, for example, are all relatively healthy options to go to with friends!

There you have it! 9 ways to actually make eating healthy a breeze. Anything I missed? Let me know in the comments. And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter, for the latest and greatest in nutrition, wellness tips + discounts!