Vol 6. No. 18 | How To Eat Well On The Go

We were three hours into our 1 pm Monday meeting. The rain was pounding mercilessly when the hunger pangs began. There was lots to cover before the restaurant reopened on Tuesday, but as each minute passed it became harder to concentrate. Restaurants weren’t delivering (because why would they in a torrential downpour). Suddenly I remembered that I'd smartly packed a snack. As I pulled it out of my bag, everyone stared at me incredulously before someone asked, "Are you five…Why do you have applesauce?"

Offended I was not. Applesauce has become one of my favorite snacks. It’s easy to grab and go and offers some nutritional value compared to the things I reach for when hunger hits out of nowhere.

My eating and overall wellness habits suffered in April. I decided not to be too hard on myself as I started working after a global pandemic. I was used to cooking leisurely and daily walks that I forgot how hectic life could be. For May though, I’ve vowed to get back to putting all of my habits back into place. This is hard when I'm tempted by oxtail lo mein every day. But as with all things, a proper plan is the best chance at success.

Here's how to eat healthy on the go:

1. Eat the same thing over and over again. While I love the oxtail lo mein at the Continent, one can not live on oxtail lo mein alone. Fortunately, I equally love the Continent salad and I’ve made this my nightly meal. I don’t even look at the menu and allow the temptation to set in.

2. Carry healthy snacks. My favorite healthy (ish) snacks are Lara bars, mandarins and unsweetened applesauce cups. All are easy to eat and will stop hunger from turning to anger. I haven’t done enough of this and could have probably saved myself from a lot of frustrating conversations.

3. Carve out time for you early in the day. I forgot how stressful a restaurant can be. I also forgot how obsessive I can get when I’m working on a project. What keeps me sane now is I’ve gotten back to spending the first two hours of my day focused on me. I journal, read my affirmations, drink a cup of tea, meditate and take a walk. It's much easier to focus on what I'm eating when I'm centered overall.

4. Water is your friend. Outside of tasting spirits or wine, I don’t drink while working. Alcohol is too easily accessible in a restaurant and can become a bad habit very quickly. However, I realized that I haven’t been drinking enough water either. Your body needs water to function optimally and lots of it. I’ve started toting around my water bottle to make sure I increase my daily intake. It happens to look like an alcohol flask which elicits strange looks and questions, but no I’m not chugging a pint of gin.

5. Set boundaries early and often. There isn't anything more important than your health (mental and physical). Say no to things. Don't get caught up in other people's faux emergencies. And while work is great, nothing is more important than your overall well-being.

Hope you’re all well!

Shannon