Healthy Eating during Uncertain Times

Written by Lori Kerr

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News & Updates

As the days go by and we are spending extended time at home, many of us are wondering how to keep our bodies healthy. Maintaining proper nutrition and good eating habits can be extremely beneficial during times of uncertainty. Don’t let stress or boredom wreak havoc on your diet. It’s important to be mindful of what you are consuming to avoid binge or impulse eating.

PLANNING: Remember when there seemed to never be enough time to cook? Well, that’s no longer an issue! A great way to keep your nutrition on track is to start with a plan. What are you going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Everyone in your family probably has an opinion as to what they would like to eat. Involve the family in sharing ideas so that everyone has a voice in planning meals for the week. Perhaps you have some family favorites or you clipped a recipe from a magazine that you never got around to trying? If you need some inspiration, Pinterest is a great resource.

SHOPPING: Once the menu is planned for the week, it’s time to make a grocery list. Carefully list all items that you don’t have on hand. Sending one family member to the grocery store once a week for needed food is recommended at this time. Hang the weekly family menu on the refrigerator. When it’s time to cook, assign various tasks to each family member. Use it as a teaching moment with your kids, show them how to follow a recipe, how to measure, etc. Cooking is a life lesson everyone can learn and improve upon!

Need some help getting started? Below are a few tried and true recipes you may enjoy:

  • Frittatas are a great way to use leftovers in your fridge. The main ingredient is eggs. The rest of the ingredients are totally up to you, go ahead and toss in leftover veggies, beans, grains or even chopped meat. Feel free to experiment with what you have on hand. Here is a basic recipe, Vegetable Frittata.
  • Soups are the ultimate comfort food. Make a double batch so you have extra for future quick meals. Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup comes together quickly and is something the whole family will enjoy.
  • Snacks! Everyone loves to snack…it’s an added bonus if it’s healthy. Making protein energy balls is a fun activity the whole family can do together. Gather your ingredients and a few bowls and get those creative juices flowing. Energy Balls {The Ultimate Guide with 7 Recipes}

Preparing healthy meals for now and prepping meals for future use are great ways to stay busy and do something good for yourself. Remember, relax and have fun in the kitchen If your family occasionally eats freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for lunch, no worries, sometimes we all need to treat ourselves!