06 Apr Do you ever feel like your training is going great and your steps are nice and high but you just can’t nail the nutrition?

Do you ever feel like your training is going great and your steps are nice and high but you just can’t nail the nutrition?

Countless busy individuals struggle with nailing their calorie and protein intake, but it’s very achievable, sometimes we just need to reassess a few things in order to make sure we are hitting our targets correctly and consistently. Some people find it very difficult not to just go too hard for one week and then they crash and burn the next. If you’re one of these people hopefully some of these tips can help you achieve a more healthy and balanced lifestyle.

One of the biggest things that can help when you struggle with a shortness of time is preparing your meals in bulk.  An hour during the afternoon on a Sunday may seem like a lot there and then but this will save you so much time throughout the week. Write a list, do your food shop and then come home and bulk prepare and plan your meals for the week, even if you slowly build up your frozen meals to give yourself some variety in the future, it makes a huge difference. By taking time one day per week you are saving yourself from having to cook everything from scratch every evening when you come home from work.

If you struggle for time in the morning why not prepare your breakfast the night before? You could make some overnight oats or even just measure out porridge so all you have to do in the morning is add some water or milk. Another alternative is to pack something you can eat on the go, like a yogurt or a piece of fruit. You could even make a smoothie and sip at it on your commute to work! The same goes for your lunch, pack it the night before where possible so you’re not running about and short for time in the morning.

Lots of people enjoy having snacks to pick at as well, why not organise these for the week too? You shouldn’t have to cut out the things you like and everything can be enjoyed in moderation. You could have a little box or drawer for your planned snacks and you can pre-log them into your nutrition tracking app.

Not everyone will track their food, but if you do pre-track your nutrition this is a great way to stay on track as well. Fill out your app for the week ahead or even just the day ahead so you can see how nutritious your day is looking and what space you have left over for snacks or extras. If you prefer not to track, why not pre-plan your portion starting with a protein source, a carbohydrate and then bulk up your plate with some veggies. After that why not look at including a couple of small snacks in between meals.

Achieving a good balanced diet shouldn’t feel like a task, it should be something that you can find a way to create without having to dedicate hours and hours to per week. Everyone has their own set ways of doing things and it’s important to find a way that works for you and allows you to have a balanced diet including healthy and nutritiously dense foods as well as treats and other things you enjoy. Try to keep in mind that a balanced diet is the most sustainable and enjoyable option and that the best nutrition plan is the one that works best for you.

Kimberly