With our schedules getting busier and busier, it can be hard to find the time and energy to cook a healthy meal. Long work days and evening activities don’t leave much time for cooking. A quick meal on the door a gourmet meal at one’s favorite restaurant is becoming increasingly popular. But with these meals health is often sacrificed. Being able to choose a healthy option in the hustle and bustle of our active lives is crucial!

Many restaurants have listened to our calls for healthy alternatives and are now serving healthier salads and sides. Salads filled with a wide variety of fresh vegetables, protein, and other healthy toppings are becoming easier to find. Ancient grains such as quinoa, barley and farro are being added for their high nutritional value. This also adds great texture and flavor to an otherwise boring meal.

Fast food restaurants have started offering fruit or salad in place of French fries or onion rings. Juice or water is being provided to replace sugary sodas. Many are even offering healthier breakfast options such as egg-white sandwiches and fruit parfaits.

When searching for a healthy alternative, beware that these menus can also have options that appear healthy but are just as “artery-clogging” as their burger-and-fries counterparts. Luckily, most have nutritional information available to sort through their offerings, allowing one to choose the healthiest option. If not, watch out for a few items that tend to drastically increase the calories, such as bacon, sauces and extra cheese.

Portion size is another thing to consider when eating on the go. Many restaurants serve portions that are quite excessive. Occasionally we have the options of choosing an even larger portion of meat or side dishes. Be mindful of choosing these extra portions, and ask for a to-go container if the meal is too large.

While at the workplace, finding a healthy caterer can be a great option. Caterers tend to have fresher ingredients, without added ingredients to increase shelf life.Freshly made sandwiches, salads and accompaniments can drastically cut down on the amount of fat and calories consumed.They also provide better options for those with dietary restrictions such as gluten free, vegan and vegetarian, just to name a few.Caterers are not just for corporate meetings and events. Some caterers have low minimums, allowing employees to order just a few lunches on a work-filled day. Ingallina’s Box Lunch, located in Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Portland, even offers free delivery!

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