by Molly Horton

Created on: June 11, 2009

Breakfast

I have never been a fan of breakfast. I am not very hungry in the morning and generally do not have time that I want to give up to eating breakfast. Over the years I have come to agree that breakfast is important, but I have had to find a way to adapt it to my needs. I have found cereal bars to be the best option. Personally, I choose the high fiber bars so that I start my day off with a jump start in that area. I grab one on my way out the door and eat it on my twenty five minute drive to work. They are filling and easy, which is great for any busy person on the go.

Lunch

Lunch often consists of leftovers from the night before. Why fall into the sandwich rut? We so often have food left over after eating dinner, we need to pack it up and have for lunch the next day. A small treat to go along with your meal is a nice addition. I recommend 100 calorie packets of various snacks. I realize it's more economical to buy in bulk and bag your own 100 calorie treats, but this does not always work. It can be too much of a temptation to overeat if you have a full package of something. Pre-packaged foods, already portioned out, makes it easy. For a beverage, I try to have something water based. Pre-mixed, and pre-bottled drinks work best. It keeps me from drinking sodas, and keeps me hydrated.

Snacks

This is another time where 100 calorie packs come in handy. Returning home after work can be the hardest time to control your hunger and temptations. You probably want to ravish the refrigerator. I find that grabbing a quick 100 calorie pack holds me over until dinner. I also exercise after work, and this treat gives me an extra boost to get through that. You know dinner is coming so all you need is something to quench your cravings. These snacks are true treats, which helps you forgo the feeling of being deprived. I am a diet soda fan. I figure it is better then regular soda. I just cannot drink water all day long. This is my compromise.

Dinner

For many, dinner is the most anticipated meal of the day. Well, for me it is anyway. I try to stick to a few basics to keep it simple. Sometimes, when I have the extra time and energy, I will get creative, but most nights I stick to a few simple items. Most nights I have some sort of chicken or pasta. I save red meats for only once or twice a week. Chicken comes in so many forms that are quick to prepare, that it is almost mindless, just check your grocery store aisles. Baked chicken breasts, freezer to oven chicken, bbq chicken on the grill, and chicken in a Chinese form in the freezer section are just a few. You can get as creative as you want with pasta too. Add chicken, shrimp or make and freeze a lasagna into portions for easy thawing and heating. Just remember, leftovers are tomorrow's lunch! One last note, always drink milk with dinner. This is the one time I do this during the day. It's full of important nutrients.

Bedtime Snack

This probably should not be a regular occurrence, but when bedtime snacks are needed, simple is the way to go. Pick an ice cream treat that is portioned out, that you can store in your freezer. Another option is 100 calorie bags of popcorn. They are the perfect size for one person, and make the perfect light treat. Now off to sleep to start all over again tomorrow.

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