6 Rules To Healthy Eating On The Go

Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t struggle to eat healthily when we have plenty of time to plan our meals and carefuly chose the shopping list.

We struggle when life gets busy. When we’re rushing between work and school runs. When we’re travelling. When we’re spending the day in town. When we’re stuck in airports, service stations or grabbing lunch between meetings.

That’s usually when healthy eating on the go goes out of the window. We tend to go for whatever is quicker and more convenient. Before we know it, we’ve gone from a healthy breakfast to a pastry, a meal deal, a chocolate bar. Just grab and eat.

The good news?

Healthy eating on the go doesn’t have to be complicated. It comes down to a few simple rules. Remember them and apply them whenever you need quick food and quick decision-making. You may be surprised how much easier it makes life and how much it helps you avoid unnecessary snacking on foods that don’t support your health goals.

Stop Looking For Perfect Food

One of the biggest mistakes I see women make is believing they need to eat perfectly or they will fail. And that makes us carry constant guilt. Because there is no such thing as a PERFECT diet, but there are definitely things we DO need to apply every day in order to maintain good health.

If you’re away for the day and your options aren’t ideal, don’t focus on finding the perfect meal. Forget about calorie counting, macro counting, micro counting or fibre counting. Instead, focus on making the best choice available.

When it comes to healthy eating on the go, that simple shift in mindset can make a huge difference.

Think Protein First

Whenever I’m helping women lose weight, one of the first things we look at is whether they’re eating enough protein.

Protein helps you stay fuller for longer. And there is no doubt about that. There are many STUDIES online confirming that. It helps reduce those mid-afternoon cravings. And it makes it far less likely that you’ll find yourself sneaking into the store around the corner to get that pack of crisps or an ice cream.

If you’re buying lunch on the go, try building your meal around a source of protein.

That might be:

  • Chicken
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Greek yoghurt
  • Cottage cheese
  • Steak
  • Mozzarella ball
  • Beans or lentils

A sandwich with some protein is usually a better option than a pastry.

A Greek yoghurt and fruit pot is often a better option than a muffin.

Small choices matter.

In fact, prioritising protein is one of the simplest healthy eating on the go strategies you can use.

Add Plants Whenever You Can

But don’t make it too complicated. If you’re grabbing lunch, add a side salad. Choose nuts or fruit between meals as a snack. Order vegetables alongside your main meal or grab some pre-packed carrot sticks. Every little bit helps.

When it comes to healthy eating on the go, adding extra plants is one of the easiest ways to improve the nutritional value of your meals without making life difficult.

Don’t Leave Home Hungry

This is one of the simplest tips I can give you. And it is also one of the most important tips I need to remember for myself.

If you’re travelling, going shopping or spending the day out, don’t leave the house starving.

Because when we’re extremely hungry, we stop making rational food choices. Suddenly the giant cookie, sausage roll or packet of crisps looks very appealing and we start eating it before we know it.

Instead, try eating something sensible before you leave or pack a few healthy snacks.

Some of my favourites include:

  • A small pack of nuts
  • An apple
  • A handful of strawberries
  • Boiled eggs
  • Small natural yoghurt
  • Hummus and vegetable sticks

Being prepared is often the difference between feeling in control and feeling like food is controlling you and taking over your mind.

Successful healthy eating on the go often starts before you even leave the house.

Be Careful With “Healthy” Snacks

Food companies are INCREDIBLY clever. Many products marketed as healthy are little more than sweets wearing a health halo. Protein bars. Granola bars. Low-fat snacks. Many contain surprisingly large amounts of sugar and very little fibre.

Social media makes us believe that snack bars are a lifesaver when you travel. Sports people eat them. They are supposedly crucial for muscle building. But often it’s just clever marketing designed to make us buy more products.

Remember, labels are designed to attract our eyes and make us believe a product is healthy.

That’s why I always encourage women to reduce processed and ultra-processed foods wherever possible. Our bodies don’t need them, and there are plenty of healthy alternatives you can prepare yourself at home and take with you when you need something quick.

Here is one of my favourite recipes:

CHOCOLATE HEMP BALLS:

  • 10 mejdool dates
  • 2 tbsp hemp powder
  • 1 tbsp raw cacao powder
  • 20 g dessiccated coconut
  • 25g chopped nuts
  • 40g chopped dark chocolate min 85%
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp melted coconut butter

Place all in a food processor. Blend until sticky and shape into bite-sized balls. Let it rest in the fridge for at least an hour before eating.

healthy eating on the go

Don’t Let One Meal Ruin Your Day

But it may happen sometimes that you are out somewhere and there genuinely is no healthy choice available. No matter how much you try, there is no healthier alternative, and you do need to eat something.

Don’t let this ruin your day. One less-than-perfect meal doesn’t have to ruin your progress. One chocolate bar doesn’t cause weight gain. One takeaway doesn’t undo weeks of healthy eating. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is consistency.

Healthy people aren’t healthy because they eat perfectly. They’re healthy because they return to good habits quickly.

This mindset is one of the most important parts of healthy eating on the go.

Final Thoughts

If you’re reading this and thinking, “This all sounds great, but I’m not sure I can do it,” I want you to know that I understand.

I’ve had my own long and challenging weight loss journey. I’ve experienced the frustration, the setbacks and the feeling of starting over more times than I care to remember.

That’s why I’m so passionate about helping women find a healthier, more realistic approach to weight loss and wellbeing.

Remember, you don’t have to be perfect.

You don’t have to get every meal right.

You simply need to make the next choice a slightly better one than the last.

Small changes really do add up.

And if you’re looking for more practical tips to help you lose weight, improve your health and build sustainable habits, feel free to explore more articles on the MS CALORIE BLOG or learn more about the Bio Direct System® and how it helps busy women achieve fast, healthy and sustainable weight loss.

I believe in you.

With love,

Natalia Le Sueur
Ms Calorie®
Weight Loss Nutritionist & Creator of the Bio Direct System®

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