1 of 3 Part Series: How to eat healthy when working full time & having a family

As you may be aware I’ve changed my business hours to only being open on Saturdays, as I have gone back to working full time with the NT Government.

You can still book a nutrition consultation with me here, however I am only able to do appointments on Saturdays now, when my husband is able to look after Ethan.

Working a full time job, running my business on Saturdays and having a young baby has not left me with much time.

But I still prioritise these 3 things:

1. Eating healthy

2. Maintaining an exercise routine

3. Staying on top of my mental health

These 3 things are a must in my life and I thought I’d share how I do this each and every day via a 3 part series.

The first topic in this series is how to maintain eating healthy when you’re working full time and have a family to take care of.

Please note: just because I am a Nutritionist does not mean I am perfect in my eating…

Some days I am too tired to cook so we order take away, I enjoy a good pizza and a glass of wine and sometimes I enjoy a few Tim Tam’s with my cuppa tea.

But they are not every day things which is why keeping treats as treats is super important.

When we eat treats all the time and have them as part of our regular meals and snacks we deprive our body of the nutrients it needs to function optimally which can lead to: weight gain, gut issues, feeling tired and fatigued, low motivation, feeling flat emotionally and more.

To help keep treats as treats, preparation is key!

Starting with Meal Planning

I plan out what we’re going to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the week (including Ethan's meals) then do one big food shop so I don’t have to think about what we’re going to eat every single day.

Choosing Easy & Tasty Meals

I also choose meals that are easy to make, healthy and are things I want to eat.

Meals like chicken/fish or lamb with salad/veggies alternated with curries/bolognaise sauces (with diced & grated veggies added) works well for our family.

My breakfasts and lunches are also things that I can pre-prepare so I don’t have to do much work in the mornings (ie. soaked oats or smoothie) and with snacks I keep them super simple like protein bar, dark chocolate, veggie sticks with hummus or lightly salted popcorn.

Having a few Freezer Meals

Having a few freezer meals to hand makes it so much easier when you get home after a long day.

I often make a big curry or bolognaise on a Sunday then again mid-week with lots of veggies and freeze them for the following weeks.

Packing food for work

Packing your breakfast, lunch and a snack the night before or morning of is what I do and is a great way to ensure you are eating well when at work. It doesn't have to take long and it helps deter you from buying foods that are low in nutrition.

The key takeaways from this first Part 1 of 3 Series are:

1. Plan our your meals each week and do one big food shop (if you can)

2. Choose meals you enjoy and are also easy to make and tasty

3. Make a few freezer friendly meals to stock your freezer with

4. Pack your food for work the night before or morning of

Give these things a go this week. I find these really do help with maintaining healthy eating each and every week.

And, if you'd like some help and support with losing weight sustainably, increasing energy levels and/or improving your relationship with food why not book in for a nutrition consultation? I offer consults via Telehealth or In-Person.

For more information or to book an appointment visit: https://www.louiseellennutrition.com.au/nutrition-services