Too Busy to Eat? Diet Tips to Help You Stay in Shape this Summer

Summer season often calls for busy days at work and long nights socializing and relaxing outdoors. Your busy lifestyle may also mean there’s little time to prepare healthy meals and stick with your diet. Still, that doesn’t mean you have to sabotage your diet and put your fitness or weight loss plans on hold!

A little planning is all it takes to keep your body looking great for the beach or staying in shape all summer long. Here are some easy diet tips to help you stay in shape this summer:

1. Eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it will give your metabolism a boost in the morning and will also keep hunger pangs at bay. A healthy, wholesome breakfast can be as simple as a bowl of oatmeal with skim or soy milk, or a banana, glass of milk and an egg white omelet. Stick with something that is under 300 calories  and low in fat to get your day off on the right start. 

2. Eat small meals throughout the day. When your busy schedule makes it hard to eat three meals and two snacks each day, break up your meals so that you can eat smaller portions every few hours. This will help you maintain a high energy level and also prevent you from getting excessively hungry.

3. Pack a lunch. Avoid the temptation to eat out when you’re at work, or even when you’re hitting the road for a vacation this summer by packing your own lunch. A well-balanced meal, such as a sandwich and salad, or a healthy wrap with baked chips, will prevent you from overeating on junk food or unhealthy meals at a restaurant. Plan your meal the night before so you’re ready to go on your busiest of days!

4. Snack on fruits and veggies. If you have a habit of snacking throughout the day, make sure you’re loading up on some healthy eats by eating a few servings of fruits and fresh vegetables. Summer is a great season to load up on fruit including fresh melons, strawberries, citrus fruits, and vegetables including cucumbers and carrots.

5. Eat heavier meals early in the day. If you are planning on eating out this season, plan to eat your larger meal earlier in the day so that you can burn off the extra calories the rest of the day. Eat your lightest meal for dinner so that you can get a good night’s sleep – and won’t be going over your calorie limit for the day.