Quick, Healthy Lunch Options to Keep You Energized
Healthy Lunch Options to Get You Through the Day
Having nutritious and healthy lunch options is important. As you work through your day at work or school, you need energy to keep you going. Life is busy, so it’s important to choose options that are quick, easy, and that pack enough nutrients to keep you energized.
Here are a few tips for lunches that are easy and quickly while still being healthy.
Plan Your Lunches
One of the most important parts of having a healthy lunch is that you’ll need to plan. Too often people end up snacking throughout the day and not eating a proper lunch, running to a fast food place (or a convenience store or vending machine) for something quick, or skipping lunch entirely because they didn’t plan.
Instead, write out a menu for the week and stick to it. You may want to use some leftovers from dinner in your lunches the next day, so having a plan will help you do that. This can make preparing your lunches much easier.
Drink Water
In addition to preparing healthy lunch options, it’s important to stay hydrated as well. That’s why you may want to drink water with your lunch.
Coffee, soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, etc. may all have their place at certain times, but water has so many benefits that you’ll want to choose it whenever possible.
Choose Proteins
There are a lot of different things that you can have for lunch, but try to include protein sources with whatever you choose. Options such as eggs, lower fat dairy products, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, lean meats, poultry, fish, etc. will all help you stay full and give you energy that will last.
Fats and Fibre
Not all fats are created equal. In fact, your body needs healthy fats for various reasons. Good sources of healthy fat include olives and olive oil, avocados, nuts and nut butters, fatty fish, tofu, and much more. Avoid unhealthy fats such as saturated fat and trans fat. Artificial trans fats in particular are the worst type of fat for your health.
Getting enough fibre in your lunch is important as well. Fibre helps regulate your body, control your blood sugar, and more. Look for whole grain sources whenever possible, as these will keep you full for longer.
Remember Fruits and Veggies
Be sure to include fruits and vegetables in your lunch. Apples, bananas, berries, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, and many other fruits and vegetables are great healthy lunch options.