As collegiettes™, we’re often way too busy and can’t find the time to cook a healthy meal.
Last year, when I started off as Features editor at the Daily Illini, I had just lost 10 pounds! In one year, I gained that weight back (plus a few extra pounds) because I was just too busy to cook. I often got my dinner from restaurants near the office, including Chipotle, Noodles & Company, Panera and the many Chinese restaurants. Having the time to cook has definitely been beneficial to my health (and my waistline), but finding the time isn’t always easy.
So, because of the little bit of time I have today to post this blog, and in honor of my many readers who are busy just like me, here are some of my favorite quick and easy meals from the Jump Start Diet that you can pick up at restaurants or eat on the run!
Breakfast
Eat and Run: 1 hard-boiled egg; 1 medium banana; 3 tbsp unsalted almonds 323 calories per serving, 19 g fat (3 g saturated), 32 g carbs, 6 g fiber, 13 g protein
Coffee Shop Special: Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal With Nut Medley Topping, 12 oz nonfat latte 340 calories, 12 g fat (2 g saturated), 42 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 17 g protein
Subway Breakfast: One Egg White and Cheese Muffin Melt; 1 medium banana; 1 cup nonfat milk 336 calories, 5 g fat (1 g saturated), 57 g carbs, 8 g fiber, 22 g protein
Lunch/Dinner
Freezer to Fork: Cook 1 Kashi Black Bean Mango frozen entrée as directed on package. 340 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 58 g carbs, 7 g fiber, 8 g protein
Pie on the Fly: Nuke Amy’s Kitchen Light in Sodium Spinach Single Serve Pizza. 440 calories, 18 g fat (6 g saturated), 54 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 19 g protein
Hoagie in a Hurry: Order a Subway 6-inch Turkey Breast sandwich on 9-grain wheat bread topped with your choice of veggies. (Try lettuce, tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers.) Enjoy with 1 package apple slices, 1 bag Popchips (or a serving of any baked potato chip with less than 150 calories per serving). 435 calories, 8 g fat (1 g saturated), 76 g carbs, 8 g fiber, 19 g protein
Portable Eats: 1 all-natural fruit-and-nut bar (like Kind Fruit & Nut Nut Delight); 6 oz nonfat plain Greek yogurt sweetened with 1 tsp raw honey; 1 mozzarella string cheese 446 calories, 25 g fat (8 g saturated), 28 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 31 g protein
Always on the run (figuratively and literally now!),
Samantha