How to Eat Healthy When You Cannot Cook Your Own Meals

Trying to stay healthy can prove to be a very difficult task especially if you have limited resources to work with. Take college students, they live in small dorm rooms with tiny refrigerators and they have no access to stoves or kitchen appliances.

 If you are a business traveler, you rely on pre-made restaurant food that is often loaded down with salt, fat and other unhealthy preservatives. It is very hard to find a good wholesome meal with fresh fruits and vegetables without the necessary support. The good news is that there are ways that you can stay healthy and prevent weight gain even when you are not able to prepare your own meals.

The most obvious way to prevent weight gain is to engage in some form of regular physical exercise. You do not have to belong to a gym membership as that can be expensive or too far away from your home. Walking 30 minutes a day is a great way to exercise. It can include walking to work if you live close, going to and from your car in the parking lot, shopping in malls or taking a nice walk after work around the park or your town. If you live in an area where safety is an issue, exercise indoors by going up and down the stairs, doing sit-ups, walking or running in place or jumping rope.

Make sure that you do not make the choice to skip meals in order to try to lose weight because this is a myth. It may seem like a logical decision because the eating less means consuming fewer calories, but the truth is when you do this, your body's metabolism will slow down to conserve energy, thus storing fat. When you do decide to eat, the food will be broken down much more slowly then it normally is and it will also be stored as energy or fat which will not be burned during exercise.
Another problem with skipping meals is that your body will be so hungry that it will cause you to overeat once you do decide to eat a meal. A good rule of thumb is to eat every few hours somewhere around 5 or 6 small meals a day. You could have eggs for breakfast and have a small piece of fruit a few hours later. Have a sandwich for lunch and snack on crackers in the afternoon. Make sure that you include protein and carbohydrates in every meal. Healthy snacks include nuts, dried fruit and peanut butter.
Try to avoid as much stress in your life as you can because it can lead to weight gain. It can lead you to skip meals, eat more fast food, reduce exercise and get little to no sleep. One of the best ways to combat stress is to take frequent breaks at work or school. You can also talk with one of your coworkers or take a short walk during your lunch break. You may choose to do some deep breathing exercises or listen to some soft music to ease your worries. The most important thing for you is to be able to recognize the signs that your body is ready for a physical or mental break.
If you have a busy hectic schedule, it can cause you to eat out more often and that is not good as most of the food is packed with fat and salt which can lead to weight gain, but there are healthier options available that you need to look for. Salads are always good choices, but be careful when adding cheeses, dressings or croutons because they can add many grams of fat and calories to your meal. Order grilled or baked foods instead of fried because they will have less fat. Cut your meal in half as the majority of restaurant meals have twice as much food as you need in a single serving. Ask for a box and take the remaining food home with you and that way, you will not only save calories, you will have lunch for tomorrow.

Last of all, you should make sure that you drink plenty of water to keep yourself healthy and hydrated. Make sure to carry water with you while you are away from home. If you are trying to lose weight drink a glass of water before your meal and after your meal and it will help prevent you from overeating. Make sure to rehydrate your body if you lose a lot of sweat during exercise. If you get tired of drinking water, try some juice or tea for a variety, but remember that juice has calories and sugar, so drink it in moderation. Do not drink a lot of soda or coffee as it is not good for your body.
Stopping weight gain can be difficult, but by making a few small simple changes, you can be on your way to a healthier lifestyle.




source