Did you know that over two-thirds of adults in the United States and about one-third of children fall into the overweight and obese categories? The lack of knowledge of nutritious foods and what our bodies need to stay Healthy is a major contributor to this statistic. 

Eating healthy at home is one thing, but eating on the go can lead to some unhealthy choices. Fast food and junk food are so common around the country and going to a drive-thru when you get hungry is a pretty easy habit to get into. 

Keep reading to learn some ways to make healthy food choices when you have to leave home. 

Make a Weekly Plan

Our busy schedules often lead us to grab whatever food is most convenient. Work, school, and children can make planning meals seem like an extra chore. Actually, planning your meals ahead of time can relieve a lot of the stress that comes with figuring out what to eat. 

Make a list of meals you’d like to eat for the week; they can all be the same or a couple of different ideas. Head to the grocery store and pick up what you need to prepare your breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the week to come. 

Always make extra food, whether you’re cooking for the entire family or prepping some extra food for the weekend. Prepping your meals for the week will ensure that when you’re at work, you’ll have a healthy lunch and won’t be tempted to go pick up some takeout. 

Don’t Forget About Breakfast

Skipping breakfast should never be allowed. This meal gives you the energy to start your day off right and adds some balance to your busy life. So many of us skip breakfast because we often have to run out of the house to get to where we need to be in the morning.

If you don’t have the time to make yourself some eggs with whole-wheat toast, try grabbing a quick and easy breakfast you can eat in the car or before work. Eating some fruit with Greek yogurt or overnight oats are great examples of healthy eating on the go. 

Think About the Drink  

When you think about healthy eating out, you usually think about the food and not the drinks you’re consuming. But what you drink with your meals can also impact your health in a major way. 

Going out to lunch or stopping by the convenience store, you’re more likely to grab a soda with your food. Soda is full of artificial flavors and tons of added sugar, things that are definitely unhealthy for your body. 

When eating outside of your home, try to consciously choose drinks that are healthier. Water or tea, without added sugar, is a great option to have with your meal. 

Make a Road Trip Meal Plan

A road trip is usually marked by gas station snacks, fast food, and chips from the vending machine at a rest stop, but it doesn’t have to be. Eating healthy on the road doesn’t have to be difficult. 

Before your trip make a list of restaurants and grocery stores that you’ll cross on your path, check out some of the food options available, and make a note of the healthiest choices you can make. If you happen to pass through any towns with farmer’s markets this is a great way to get some local and healthy food. 

Packing some food for shorter trips is also a great option. Grab some healthy snacks like trail mix, hummus with veggies, or cheese sticks and pack them into coolers with some ice packs. 

Portion Control

The issue with the lack of healthy on the go options is that the portions tend to be so big. We are not only overeating but we are eating too many unhealthy foods. 

One way of controlling portion size is by ordering a big meal and dividing it between two or more people. Another way to control your portions is by ordering side dishes or appetizers, these tend to be served in smaller portions. 

You can also divide your meal for yourself. Eat half of it at the restaurant and take the other half home to eat for lunch the next day. These are all ways to make eating on the go healthy. 

Healthy Restaurants and Snacks

There will be times when you inevitably have to stop at a restaurant for some food, which we know can serve large portions of unhealthy food. How do you go about finding healthy restaurant meals then?

A good plan to have is to keep some menus from healthy restaurants at your job. That way when you find yourself with no lunch, you’ll have some nutritious food to choose from.

Make sure to opt for the healthier baked and grilled options. You can also ask the staff for the number of calories in meals if they aren’t written on the menus.    

Another idea to look into is getting a Healthy YOU Vending machine for your work office. If you constantly find yourself grabbing some chips or a chocolate bar from your job’s vending machines, a machine with some healthier options is a great way to make better food choices. 

Healthy Eating on the Go

Having to find meals outside of your home or constantly eating on the go can lead to consuming a lot of food that isn’t good for you. Eating out healthy is possible though.

Follow some of our healthy eating tips for the constantly on the go individual and make sure to check out some of our other blogs for more tips on healthier food choices.