Short on time, running out the door kinda day? If you’re faced with a jam packed schedule and don’t have time for meal planning, take a breath, this article is for you. Yes, it would be optimal to meal prep so you don’t get into these pickle situations, but life is life so let’s feed ourselves the best we can. In this article, you will learn what essential tools to keep on hand to assemble nutritious on the go meals, whether it’s a healthy lunch option or convenient snack foods. You’ll even learn how to enhance nutrition at the Drive Thru! Your effortless nutrition planning starts here.
Gear Up for Nutritional Success: Packing Your Eating Utensils
Keep a set of clean cutlery in a lidded container in your day pack or car, these are your tools to create nutritious Nutrivore style meals anywhere you go. You can bring a set from home, or grab extra sets from take-out places. Tug them in your carry bag if you transit or keep them in your glove compartment if you drive. Check out camping utensils because they’re designed to be compact. Some even come with built in clips right on the cases to easily attach to your bag. My current favorite is the collapsible containers, they pack down to notebook size when not in use, saving space and easily slip into your day pack.
Fresh Finds: Produce Stand Quick Meal Picks
Your local produce stands are well stocked with so many whole food grab and go snacks – tangerines and bananas are just a couple of no wash fruits with removable peels, and are great snacks to tie you over with no cleaning required. Fruits and veggies are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and more nutrients for energy. If you want to learn what makes fruits and veggies so great, go here to to read more. Sometimes fruit stands may also carry small packs of nuts! Combining nuts and seeds with fruits, two of the twelve key Nutrivore Foundational foods together, will power you through hours more in your busy day. If you have water handy to rinse your produce, add these picks: berries, apples, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes to your selection.
Thrifty Eats: Dollar Store Hacks
Don’t turn your nose up on bargain shops that carry food products – you may be losing out if you dismiss dollar stores. If you look around, more discount stores are stocking single portion proteins like canned seafood; choose from any of these nutrient-dense fish or mollusks like sardines, tuna and oysters to satisfy your daily protein needs. Learn more about how adding seafood in your diet can help you here.
Salad On the Fly: Grab-and-Go Green Kits
Have a few extra bucks to spare or prefer less assembly work? Swing by convenience or grocery stores that offer pre-packed salad kits, such as Pret a Manger or Trader Joe’s, for instance. Pick your flavor to match your mood and feast away. These kits are put together with busy folks like you in mind, combining selected ingredients with good nutritional value, and taste appeal. These are great for your on-the-go moments. Opt for kits with a vibrant rainbow of vegetables and fruits such as bell peppers, zucchini, sweet potato, or chickpeas to name a few. These colorful mixes often come with dips such as hummus or tahini, dressings such as Italian, Ranch or Asian-inspired, or fun toppings like dried fruits and crunchy nuts, offering an effortless way to diversify your diet. Sometimes these kits include hard boiled eggs, chicken breast, or different cheeses like feta or cheddar for added protein and flavor. Another easy way to add protein to your lunch is to grab a container of cottage cheese or peanut butter to enjoy on the side. The more variety, the better—keeping your taste buds entertained while making sure you get a well-rounded mix of nutrients. Other salad options may even include grains such as quinoa or couscous. With so many options to choose from, you can mix up your salad recipe every time, ensuring loads of healthy food options and countless meal ideas. If the meal kits alone don’t fill you up, toss a bag of pre-washed salad mix into your cart. Still hungry? Grab a can of seafood with pull tabs for added convenience, layering everything together in your container, or go to the deli counter and grab some of your favorite deli meats or a even a rotisserie chicken to make it a chicken salad and BAM – you’ve got yourself a nutrient-packed superstar easy meal!
Fast Food: Building Your Balanced Meal at the Drive-Thru
Remember, you’ve got nutritional power in your hands wherever you may find yourself! If you’re in the drive-thru line, give these tips a go: Go bun-less with a lettuce-wrapped burger if you’re looking for a low-carb option and ask for extra toppings like tomato, lettuce, or pickles. Keep it light on the sauce—opt for yellow mustard or ketchup. Add a side salad or a kid’s fruit pack to your order for an extra boost of nutrition. And for your beverage, consider water, unsweetened iced tea, or juice to round off your meal. Healthy eating is possible wherever you are!
In summary, even the most prepared person will get hit with the hecticness of life now and then, we’ll run into times where we believe our nutrition got pushed to the side as we rush from errands to appointments. However, in this article I hope you’ve learned a handful of simple ways to bring nutrition back to your focus. Even on a full-on day, fueling up your body on the go is doable. It’s good to remember “not every food we eat needs to be the pinnacle of nutrient density.”
cITATIONS
Expand to see all scientific references for this article.
Ballantyne, S. (2024). Nutrivore. Simon Element. Fix Your Diet ( and Health) with Nutrivore P.34
What Kate Has to Say About Nutrivore!
