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GETTING THE NUTRIENTS YOU NEED -- In a fast-paced world |
Getting The Nutrients You Need
In a fast-paced world
The USDA suggests you plan your meals carefully by balancing smart ingredients from each of the food groups. Of course this is sound advice, but it fails to take into account one important factor.
You are busy. Very busy.
Work, family, friends, kids’ activities—most of the time you’re too busy reacting to plan anything. And convenience is often the enemy of nutrition. The bad news is, proper nutrition is no less important for people on the go than it is for those with plenty of time on their hands. The good news is, it’s easier than you think. But only if you make it easier. Here are some tips for doing just that.
Tune out the buzz
With everyone battling to be the smartest kid on the bookshelf, saying their studies are right and last week’s are wrong, try to pass over the latest headlines and stick to common sense. If you already have good nutrition sense, feel free to skip the next tip.
Being human
Humans have developed over hundreds of thousands of years by eating mostly plants and some protein. You are a human. Therefore you must eat mostly plants and some protein. This means doing most of your grocery shopping on the outside walls of the market—the produce section, the butcher’s counter, the deli case and the dairy case. For convenience, look for things that can go straight from the grocery shelf into your briefcase, purse or frying pan, like the following.
Wrapped and ready
Ease and nutrition go hand in hand with grab-and-go fresh fruits in season like apples or peaches, dried fruits like raisins or prunes, pre-cut melon, carrot sticks, pre-cut veggies, nuts, single-serving yogurt and Sorrento® String Cheese and Cheese Sticks. Sorrento even offers string cheese fortified with calcium and vitamin D to maintain strong bones and muscles, and Omega 3 to help support brain function.
Up and at ’em
Skipping breakfast to get to work? The time you save will be lost in reduced productivity by lunch. It takes mere minutes to whip up a Mocha Hazelnut Smoothie with Sorrento® Ricotta. And you don’t have to waste time, effort and dishwashing liquid making one every morning. Make a blender full on the weekend, then pour it into plastic drinking cups and pop ’em in the freezer. Later in the week, 20 seconds in the microwave will get your day off to a nutrient-filled start. If all else fails, just keep some of those previously mentioned wrapped-and-ready foods on hand to grab as you’re running out the door.
Power lunch
In a time pinch? Wrap Sorrento® String Cheese, a piece of lettuce and a slice of turkey in a whole-wheat tortilla for a 30-second sandwich. And if you’re buying a sandwich at the deli, boost the nutrients by loading up on the vegetables. When the guy behind the counter asks, “Lettuce, tomato, peppers or onions?” Your answer should be, “Yes, please.”
What’s for dinner?
Here are three time-saving approaches to dinner prep.
1. Batch cooking. If you happen to find yourself with the time to cook up a full dinner, why not cook a double batch? Serve one and freeze the other for microwave night two weeks from now. Foods like meatloaf, casseroles, soups, stews and chili are perfect for feeding the freezer.
2. Slow cooking. Fill up the slow-cooker in the morning and let it do the work all day. There’s nothing like the feeling of walking in the door after a long day’s work and finding dinner ready to serve.
3. One-pot cooking. Brown some meat, add rice, potatoes or pasta and plenty of veggies. Top with Sorrento® Mozzarella and you’ll soon be dishing up a family favorite. And the dishes are done in half the time.
Don’t ignore cravings
Don’t let your sweet tooth steer you off the nutrition track. Just find better alternatives. Yogurt and granola in the morning can make you forget about glazed donuts in a hurry. And throughout the day, things like apple slices and peanut butter and Low-Carb Strawberry Crème made with Sorrento® Ricotta Cheese can knock out even the biggest sugary cravings.
The most important nutrient
With all this talk about healthy eating, it’s easy to forget about the most vital nutrient of all—water. It’s a part of every cell, tissue, and organ in your body. So if you don’t stay hydrated, your body can’t take full advantage of all the healthy choices you make. Water is always the best drink choice. Low-fat milk and 100% fruit or vegetable juice are also good choices occasionally. Keep a full glass at your desk and always carry a bottle when traveling. And drink up. |
