For starters, you need to plan ahead. This means taking 5 to 10 minutes the night before to pack enough food to last you throughout the following day. A big problem that people make is not bringing anything with them and then relying on eating out and vending machines to get their meals in. Sorry to tell you, but this is not going to help your fat loss or performance goals. Some people even plan out meals for their whole week on a Sunday.
You need to bring easily accessible meals. Obviously, if you are on a tight schedule, you are probably not going to be eating a gourmet prime rib dinner during the day. Thus, here are some great things you can take in easily and quickly throughout the day to keep that metabolism running on all cylinders.
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Peanut butter is great as it has protein and good fats. (Get natural if you can) These are easy to make and easy to eat quickly. Depending on the individual, most types of bread are not your friend so be sure to use all natural, high protein, whole grain bread to make the sandwich with. You can also just down some peanut butter by itself if need be. Adding in some real jam (made with actual fruit) can give you some added nutrients as well.
Containers of meat
Ground up some lean ground beef, turkey or chicken and put it in some mini containers. Heat it up for 30 seconds and you have a quick meal to down. You will get ample calories and protein to keep things rolling.
Protein Shakes
If you have a hard time getting meals in, protein supplements are a must. Simply put some powder in a shaker cup, mix it with water and there you go. You have a high protein meal in less than a minute.
Nuts
Nuts are your friend. Especially nuts like almonds, pistachios and cashews. They have lots of good fats, protein and will help suppress that empty stomach feeling. Best of all, for the purposes of this article, they are very easy and quick to eat. Take a few handfuls and eat em down.
Fruits and Veggies
Packing a banana, some berries, an apple, a side salad with some greens, etc. is very easy to do and they are all easy and quick to eat. You will get some much needed energy for your day and plenty of vitamins and minerals to keep your body functioning well.
Natural Granola Bars
Granola bars are a great way to get some energy and are easy to eat fast. I prefer Nature Valley myself.
So there you have it. The list could go on and on but these are some things that I like to use to get my meals in on busy days. There simply is no reason or excuse to not get meals in as there is almost always a way. Whether you are talking fat loss or performance, frequency of eating is a huge key to reaching your goals so it has to be accomplished. If anybody has any personal favorites that help them, feel free to leave them in the comments section.