Eating Healthy On the Go

There's a million reasons why it's hard to eat healthy at work - don't have time to pack a lunch, too annoying to clean up the tupperware, doesn't fit in my work bag, etc etc. It sounds ridiculous when I write it down, but I really use "not wanting to clean up tupperware" as an excuse (I don't have a dishwasher; I do all of them by hand). But I've been spending way too much money buying salads and sandwiches at work, so I came up with a few ways to eat healthy and save money:

• Use plastic Ziploc bags for salads instead of tupperware.

Admittedly, this isn't the most eco-friendly of ideas I've ever had, but it really motivates me to bring a salad when I know I won't have to spend time getting old salad dressing out of my tupperware bowl (which is a lot harder than you think). I just stick my salad greens in one of the big freezer bags, then add the dressing at lunch and shake it together. Then, when I'm done, the bag goes in the trash and there's no messy cleanup. This especially comes in handy when I add quinoa or some other little grain to my salad - those always get stuck in the sink when I try to clean out my salad bowl. 

• Buy fresh vegetables on Sunday and pack them in bags for the whole week.

On Sunday, I go to the grocery store and get a few bags of baby carrots, whole bell peppers, and sometimes a few stalks of celery. I cut up the peppers and celery, then mix them with carrots in five bags for me to take to work. It only takes a few minutes of prep, and then I always have a snack to hold me through the work day. 

• Make sandwiches ahead of time and wrap them in foil.

I love using tin foil for sandwiches because unlike plastic bags, you can wrap it tightly enough so that stuff doesn't fall out of the sandwich. This comes in handy especially when I make my Mediterranean naan & hummus sandwich, or any other sandwich that has a lot of loose greens and veggies in it. 

• Use a water bottle with measurements on it. 

Did you know that 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated? Dehydration can cause a variety of ailments, like fatigue, headaches, and dizziness, to name a few. Personally, I have to make a conscious effort to get the amount of water I need, especially when I'm at work. That's why I use a two-liter water bottle with measurements on it, so I can keep track of how much I'm drinking during the day. 

Talking about water and dehydration is a great opportunity to exhibit gratitude for the fact that clean water is available in America. However, 783 million people globally do not have access to clean water. An easy way to get involved is through the UNICEF Tap Project, which funds one day of clean water for a child in need for every 10 minutes you don't touch your phone. Visit uniceftapproject.org on your phone to get involved!