Feb 12 2009
Fast Food – the type you want to be eating
Have you ever been out all day and only had your wallet to supply you with nutrition? You probably have and I would assume that you would normally stop at a drive through window, because lets face it, you’re pushed for time. Or, you have picked up a gas station sandwich and a soda and paid through the nose for it? Or the other favorite is to smash and grab at convenience stores loading up on chocolate and sweets to curb the hunger.
If this is how you spend your day supplying your nutritional demands then I suggest a quick fix. Read the following and change your daily diet plan forever.
As an athlete diet is very important to me. Catering for my nutritional needs whilst attending to wrestling events and my workout regime is tough, not to mention being able to live a somewhat normal life. I have picked up a few tips and tricks to help myself and others in eating right when on the go.
The first thing you should really consider is the possibility of preparing some of your meals before you being your day together with eating a wholesome breakfast before you leave the house. It sounds rather tedious and time consuming and sometimes it can be but in my eyes you just cannot compromise your health, athlete or not. Now you don’t have to prepare every meal. How about making a nutritious lunch of chicken or tuna fish salad with a boiled egg, small new potatoes and a light, low fat salad dressing. Then maybe you can pack a snack of a chopped fruit salad, some wholegrain low sugar cereal mixed together with a couple spoons of natural yoghurt. These are two meals that can help curb hunger and help you through the day without conceding to temptation and hopping in line at the nearest burger king. The key to eating healthy and meeting your training goals is to know exactly what and when you are going to eat.
Eating on the go is much more than pre-packing food. If you have to catch flights, meet clients, drive etc. then there are a few things you can do here to hit your nutritional requirements. If the need is there to stop at a gas station then look for the following items; low fat milk, wholegrain brown bread sandwiches, protein bars, fruit, and mineral water. You may be lucky enough to stop somewhere that has a subway and you should take full advantage of this fact as a subway sandwich can provide two good quality meals. Double chicken or turkey foot long sandwiches that are loaded with salad and green vegetables are the perfect way to eat on the go. High protein, moderate carbohydrates and low fat is exactly what we are looking for. If not, then milk provides around 20 grams of protein per pint, wholegrain brown bread is a much better source of carbohydrates than white bread and make sure that the sandwich is filled with tuna fish, chicken breast or turkey breast to add to your daily levels of protein. Do be careful as many pre packed sandwiches are very high in sodium and saturated fats. Always look at the label carefully for sodium and fat contents whilst taking particular care of any additional artificial additives. Protein bars are a staple for any diet on the go, high protein and low carbohydrates are perfect for filling a gap and meeting nutritional targets. However, be careful of the sugar content as some bars can be very high in simple sugars. Fruit is a great way to snack whilst on the go and accompanies a sandwich or protein bar with added vitamins and minerals. Although a carbohydrate, the sugar in fruits is derived from natural sources and therefore is not a carbohydrate you will need to worry about. Last but not least is mineral water. Water is very important in your daily nutrition. Water helps transport nutrients around the body along with providing hydration to muscle cells. Muscles that are fully hydrated are healthy and strong. Without your RDA of water significant downturns in all of your bodily functions is to be expected.
So, should you be an athlete or just the average workaholic, your diet is still very important. These little tips should help you on your way to feeling better, looking better and enjoying your diet as part of your everyday life.
