Entrepreneur Health Hack: How to Eat Well When You Are Super Busy All the Time

It’s no surprise that Americans are considered the most overworked employees in the Western world and are at risk of more stress as a result. The stakes are even higher for those starting their own business when putting in long hours is often necessary to get a new venture off the ground.

Luckily, it’s not impossible to eat healthy when you’re an entrepreneur. It just takes some planning and discipline. Here are some tips on how to eat well when you’re starting a business (which you can continue to follow as your business grows.)

Prep the Week’s Meals Ahead of Time

This step will take away a bit of your free weekend time, but you’ll thank yourself later when you step on the scale. Whenever possible, prepare your lunches ahead of time by making a couple of favorite healthy meals and freezing a few servings of them. This will ensure you’ll have something healthy to grab on days when you may not have time to wait in line in the office cafeteria.

Wash and cut up produce early in the week that you can use to make salads and stir-fries. You can store your favorite salad ingredient combinations in mason jars and bring them to work along with dressing in a separate container. When you’re ready to eat, just pour the dressing over the salad, replace the lid, and give it a good shake to evenly distribute the flavor.

Soup is another healthy option that you can make ahead of time and freeze in single size servings. Choose a recipe that contains a serving of veggies such as broccoli cheese or sweet potato soup. Protein-packed soups such as Italian wedding soup will keep you sated for the rest of the workday.

Planning for the week ahead and making sure you have enough ready-made meals on hand will help ensure you’re staying on track with healthy eating. Seek out healthy lunch recipes that are easy to make.

Keep a Stockpile of Healthy Snacks at Your Desk

When most people get hungry at the office, the first place they usually head to is the vending machine, particularly if they don’t have time for a proper lunch. This is a huge mistake, as healthy choices here are pretty rare to come by.

To avoid the temptation, always keep a stockpile of healthy snacks on hand that will keep you full and don’t require refrigeration. Nuts, roasted chickpeas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, whole grain crackers, peanut butter, jerky, and protein bars are just some of the nutrition packed treats you’ll want within easy reach. So are microwavable options such as canned soup and instant oatmeal.

If there’s space in the office fridge, keep a supply of fresh fruit, cut up veggies, hummus, cheese, yogurt, boiled eggs, low-calorie ice cream treats, and other snacks.

Use a Meal Delivery Service

When you’re pressed for time or are tired of the same old options in the cafeteria, why not take advantage of a meal delivery service company? Many of them were designed for busy professionals and offer various subscription levels depending upon how often you need a fresh meal delivered.

Some meals may arrive frozen, so be sure to do your research to find the right one with the best options for your work schedule. This helpful post gives some suggestions for meal delivery services to use, as well as other hacks on finding a healthy lunch when you’re at work.

Also, keep in mind that many restaurants are implementing apps that enable customers to place online orders which they will then deliver to you. Chances are there are restaurants offering healthy lunch options within close proximity to your workplace that can deliver.

Get a Slow Cooker

That kitchen staple of the 1970s that was popular when more women entered the workforce never truly went away. It seems the crock pot or slow cooker is just in demand as ever as the go-to appliance for busy employees. What could be more convenient than placing prepared ingredients into the cooker and coming home to a ready-made meal?

A second benefit of making slow cooker meals is that you’ll have leftovers to bring with you to the office. Try using your slow cooker to prepare soups, stews, chili, and more.

Drink Plenty of Water

Sometimes being a little dehydrated can make us hungry and cause us to consume extra calories when in fact what we need is water. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can be very drying to the body. Staying hydrated with fresh water will keep energy levels high and keep us filling full longer.

If plain water is too bland for your taste you can flavor it with fruit, berries, or cucumber slices and herbs such as mint and lemongrass. There are water bottles designed with built-in flavoring chambers; a bonus is you can snack on the fruit after the water is gone.

Now You Know How to Eat Well As an Entrepreneur

Knowing how to eat well, especially when you’re running your own business, is pretty easy once you know these tips. It will take a little planning outside of the office, but the payoff is worth it: you’ll maintain a healthy weight and have more energy to put into building your business.

Here at View the Vibe, we love helping our readers reach their potential and live a satisfying lifestyle. For more tips on how you can stay healthy while running a business, be sure to read our latest health and fitness content.