Daily planning for nutritional success

We need to approach our health in the same way we approach a job. Healthy eating requires some planning and it's important to schedule time to make meal plans and a grocery list. Meal planning helps you to stick to your grocery list and prevents purchasing unhealthy products. Keep 5-7 recipes (on index cards) in your purse for times when you need to grab a quick fix at the grocery store! Shop for healthy foods staying on the outside perimeter of the grocery store. Websites like http://www.cookinglight.com/ offer wonderful options for healthy family recipes.

Plan your daily menu the night before. Get food ready the night before, packing it in a small cooler the next morning, taking it with you to work or in the car while on daily errands. It takes about 15 minutes a night to get food prepared and packed. Using a PDA, computer, food journal, etc. to record meals can help you stay on track and will reflect your hard work and progress.

If you frequently eat out, look at the menus and nutritional information on the internet and make a choice in advance. Keep the nutritional printouts in a notebook in your car or briefcase so you can access them as needed. Often restaurant servings are twice the portion needed and half of your order can be saved for another meal. Planning in advance helps you to feel in control and will give you the confidence needed to stay on track!