We headed to the mountains this week for the first time this year. Typically, we would have made this trip a dozen or so times by now. With two new babies this year, I find we are sticking a little closer to home than our usual. None the less, stepping out of the car and breathing that fresh mountain air was a quick reminder why I love it so much. Without a doubt, the air just smells that much better out there.
Packing for our little day trip was interesting: four bikes, a double bike trailer, the stroller, diapers and bottles to make it through the day plus a couple extras, soccer ball, baseball gloves, a change of clothes for each of us, and enough food for a picnic lunch, quick dinner and a couple of snacks along the way. As we pulled out of Chestermere with the vehicle nearly bursting with all that had been packed, my oldest son way already whining that I didn’t pack anything ‘good’ to eat. A quick peek at the cooler and all the snacks in the back did not earn any approvals from my eight year old.
Among his protests, I was reminded of a conversation I had last week with a client looking for some guidance staying on track with nutrition and diet during a busy summer of travel. With weekend trips to a vacation home she struggles to keep her eating plan on track while at home. She was eating healthier while away and frustrated with her lack of discipline when at home which turned out to be quite the opposite of her expectations. This client’s experience is quite common.
So why is it we eat better when we pack our meals whether we are packing for lunch at work, a picnic, or before we head out camping or for a vacation?
The answer is actually quite simple: we take the time to prepare our packed meals.
When we pack a meal, we have time to think about it and plan for it.
It isn’t our intention to make poor food choices; it just happens. With a busy day, multiple commitments and being on the go it is quite common to run out of time to cook something or plan a proper meal. A missed trip to the grocery store for fresh ingredients, an invite out with friends or simply reacting to the impulse of being hungry and grabbing a quick bite easily derails good intentions for healthy eating.
When we are hungry we make decisions with emotion and impulse. Rational thought abandons us when those hunger pains hit. All good intentions take a back seat in our race to fill the gap fast.
The best way to tackle this is to plan, plan and plan! By planning in advance we are not allowing our emotions to take over. Take your weekly schedule and strategize
your meals around it. With your commitments in mind stock your fridge and pantry with all that is necessary for the week. Get the family on board and make them a part of the planning process. Is dinner prep difficult when you are on the go a lot? Consider leftovers, or homemade-ready-made meals to take on the go.
When dining out, don’t stop planning. Check the menu out ahead of time and make your meal choices before a tempted nose and a hungry tummy make those decisions for you.
In an already overwhelmingly busy lifestyle the though of taking the time to plan can seem unrealistic. Start small with three or four previously-thought-out meals each week. When that becomes a habit add a couple more. Keep planning as “Preparation is the key to success.” – Alexander Graham Bell.
