Grocery Staples for the Health-Conscious Person On-The-Go

I give full props to anyone who spends their Saturday or Sunday "Meal Prepping with Bae" #baeswhocooktogetherstaytogether. However, as mentioned in my introduction, I have a lot going on so taking half a day to cook meals for the week doesn't always work out.When I have a minute at home to cook, I love doing it, but portioning out vegetables, cooking individual chicken breasts, and measuring out exact portions of noodles for the week is time consuming and for me, takes a bit of fun out of it.

Anywho, I've been trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle while constantly on the go. It's ever so tempting to stop off for fast food when popping between plans. *Insert lengthy daydream about a McChicken and Small Fries.* But, fast food doesn't keep my pants fitting, so I have to plan for other options. Coincidentally, my new office is also nowhere near any quick lunch places so I have learned a lot about bringing my own food and how to sustain throughout the day. I also mentioned in my first post that I like to find ways to make life a little bit more simple. So, if you are someone who is either constantly on the go, or traveling in the near future, here is a list of some of my favorite snack options that are convenient, healthy and require little to no prep time.

1. Baby Carrots & Wholly Guacamole 100 calorie packs
Both of these items can be bought as single serves, and they are a complete lifesaver when it comes to an easy on-the-go snack or lunch side. Aside from annoying my coworkers with my obnoxious crunching, it's a great alternative to tortilla chips and guac.

2.Fresh Fruit
Okay, duh. But seriously, fruit is the original fast food and typically doesn't require a boat load of ranch dressing to make it taste good while raw. Think: Apples, Oranges, Peaches, Bananas, Plums, etc.

3.Yogurt
Any kind you choose is sufficient for curbing your appetite in between meals. If you get a good greek yogurt, you may even be able to substitute for an entire meal. Make note of the sugar content though. Some are extremely high, so keeping as low as possible is key. Don't be ashamed to buy those kid "tubes." I'm not talented enough to eat yogurt with a spoon while driving, so I sometimes will bring those with.

4. Cheese sticks
More dairy, because Midwest! Full of protein and easy to take with you, cheese sticks are great snacks and additions to any meal plan.

5. Rotisserie Chicken
Don't have time to cook chicken during the week? Stop by your local grocery and pick one of these up. For about $8, you have about a week's worth  of cooked chicken. Add to salad, pasta or just eat it plain. It's a great and convenient option to adding more protein in your day. Make sure to remove the skin though, otherwise fat content stays pretty high.

6. Protein Shakes
Find one that works for you that isn't solely focused on workout recovery. Meal replacement shakes are sometimes a viable option as well, but if you are someone who needs to chew your meals rather than sip them, look for a shake that is low calorie and low sugar. I personally use Shakeology and Isalean. Mix with water or unsweetened almond milk and you have an easy treat that is nutritious and should provide enough energy to get you to your next meal.

7. Steam-in-bag Veggies
These things are amazing. Green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, you can pretty much get anything you want. They shed tons of time off cooking vegetables in the oven and are still as nutritious. Great to bring with to work and you can save the rest for the rest of the week.

These are just a few of my "must-haves" on my grocery shopping list. When I find new items to incorporate, I get so excited because it adds a little variety. Eventually, I plan to share some of my favorite recipes of quick, easy and healthy dinners that didn't come from a box. Do you have any favorites that I missed?!