Crazy Life = No posts for a while.
I've been in the midst of the last bit of medical school, which involves various placements in various specialties. Needless to say, I haven't been cooking that much. To be perfectly honest, it's been a real lesson in being able to have nutritious meals that are 1) the easiest to prepare in the history of the world 2) balancing more pressing desire to use my spare time for studying, exercising and trying to stay sane with intermittent episodes of Once Upon a Time and Glee.
There's nothing wrong with buying prepared stuff. This was a lesson forced upon me by my roommate. I've been really against it in the past because...I've felt really guilty. I would stand for too long in grocery stores thinking about all the things I should buy to make something that's prepared and ready to go, right in front of me. A container of hummus- well, I could buy the ingredients and make it right?
Yes, it's often cheaper to buy individual parts and put stuff together at home.
Yes, sometimes it truly is healthier, but when you're in a time crunch and you just want a salad?
I am now an expert snacker. During my rotations, there is often no time to sit down and eat a meal. You eat when you find a couple of minutes between patients. You have to have food that is often not requiring a microwave, refrigeration and won't leave you needing a napkin.
I've got a few favourites:
1. Individual 100 calories hummus from Costco. Carry some crackers or veggies with you in a disposable ziplock and BAM, healthy filling snack accessible. No container required. No daytime refrigeration.
2. Cliff Bars. These are great meal replacements- calorie dense and o so yummy.
3. Trailmix granola bars. Good natural ingredients. No extra empty calories. Portable and yummy.
4. Simply granola bars. Really healthy option. Gluten free. Great flavours.
5. Raw nuts. Grab and handful of almonds, cashews or whatever you fancy. They're mess free and can fill me up for a bit!
6. Apples. These are a bit tricker because if they're tooooo juicy, they may be a bit messier than say...a carrot. But they're so yummy, nutritious and come in many varieties. No peeling. No refrigeration. Way easier than a pesky (but delicious) orange.
7. Any raw veggies: carrots, celery, baby tomatoes, cut cucumber (or baby cucumbers). These don't nessessarily require refrigeration to stay tasty and not smelly but if you want to bring in raw broccoli, you're on your own there (been there- it gets pretttyyy odorous as the day goes on and then well, you don't want to be that person that's brought in the stinky veggies)
8. Something carby- bagels, muffins, english muffins etc. These really don't need a lot of cleanup, they're fast and pretty much always delicious and satisfying. Just don't go crazy with the sweet pastries, we want to stay on the healthy end of the spectrum. Plus, then after a long day's work, you don't have to regret having something sweet after dinner like a piece of chocolate or whatnot because you've already ate something sweet that day and you said you wouldn't have anything else (my daily experience lol; the struggle is so real) If you have a spare moment, why not try Banana Honey Muffins or Apple Oat Muffins as a nice healthy version of baked goods ready when you need them!
These are just a few random ones that I've come across these last few months that have made my life so much easier and overall, simpler.
I've been in the midst of the last bit of medical school, which involves various placements in various specialties. Needless to say, I haven't been cooking that much. To be perfectly honest, it's been a real lesson in being able to have nutritious meals that are 1) the easiest to prepare in the history of the world 2) balancing more pressing desire to use my spare time for studying, exercising and trying to stay sane with intermittent episodes of Once Upon a Time and Glee.
What have I learned over the past couple of months?
There's nothing wrong with buying prepared stuff. This was a lesson forced upon me by my roommate. I've been really against it in the past because...I've felt really guilty. I would stand for too long in grocery stores thinking about all the things I should buy to make something that's prepared and ready to go, right in front of me. A container of hummus- well, I could buy the ingredients and make it right?
Yes, it's often cheaper to buy individual parts and put stuff together at home.
Yes, sometimes it truly is healthier, but when you're in a time crunch and you just want a salad?
Get that stinking prepared salad.
Problem solved.
Time saved.
Tummy happy.
Stress less.
All you have to do is be smart about it- read labels. Choose the healthy options. Cook when you can, but don't sweat when it's tight. Thanks roomie- my groceries have been more than a single cabbage and a can of chickpeas because of this.I am now an expert snacker. During my rotations, there is often no time to sit down and eat a meal. You eat when you find a couple of minutes between patients. You have to have food that is often not requiring a microwave, refrigeration and won't leave you needing a napkin.
I've got a few favourites:
1. Individual 100 calories hummus from Costco. Carry some crackers or veggies with you in a disposable ziplock and BAM, healthy filling snack accessible. No container required. No daytime refrigeration.
2. Cliff Bars. These are great meal replacements- calorie dense and o so yummy.
3. Trailmix granola bars. Good natural ingredients. No extra empty calories. Portable and yummy.
4. Simply granola bars. Really healthy option. Gluten free. Great flavours.
5. Raw nuts. Grab and handful of almonds, cashews or whatever you fancy. They're mess free and can fill me up for a bit!
6. Apples. These are a bit tricker because if they're tooooo juicy, they may be a bit messier than say...a carrot. But they're so yummy, nutritious and come in many varieties. No peeling. No refrigeration. Way easier than a pesky (but delicious) orange.
7. Any raw veggies: carrots, celery, baby tomatoes, cut cucumber (or baby cucumbers). These don't nessessarily require refrigeration to stay tasty and not smelly but if you want to bring in raw broccoli, you're on your own there (been there- it gets pretttyyy odorous as the day goes on and then well, you don't want to be that person that's brought in the stinky veggies)
8. Something carby- bagels, muffins, english muffins etc. These really don't need a lot of cleanup, they're fast and pretty much always delicious and satisfying. Just don't go crazy with the sweet pastries, we want to stay on the healthy end of the spectrum. Plus, then after a long day's work, you don't have to regret having something sweet after dinner like a piece of chocolate or whatnot because you've already ate something sweet that day and you said you wouldn't have anything else (my daily experience lol; the struggle is so real) If you have a spare moment, why not try Banana Honey Muffins or Apple Oat Muffins as a nice healthy version of baked goods ready when you need them!
These are just a few random ones that I've come across these last few months that have made my life so much easier and overall, simpler.
Any go to favourites? What do you grab on the go?
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