Eating healthy can be hard if you’re not sure where to start. There's high prices and time constraints and a million people online telling us to stop eating this food or start eating that one. It’s hard to even figure out what exactly healthy means, let alone how to apply it to our lives. I’m sure you’ll find a million different definitions out there, so let me just tell you what healthy means to me: Eating in moderation, while listening to my body’s signals.

This means eating until I’m full, but not overstuffing myself to the point that I’m physically uncomfortable. Your body knows how much it needs and sends you these signals for a reason.

Many people make excuses for not eating healthy (and, I admit, sometimes I do too). If I’m stressed for an exam, I’ll use it as an excuse to eat perhaps a little too much sugar, or if I’m crammed with schoolwork, I’ll eat something quick and easy and not necessarily healthy. Lately, however, I’ve put more of a focus on my health. I’ve realized that the better I eat, the better I feel and the more productive and happy I become.

That being said, let me introduce you to the five ways I eat healthy during a hectic school year.

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Method #1: Finding Easy Recipes

As simple as it seems, finding easy and healthy recipes online was the best decision I’ve ever made. I can’t tell you how many delicious, quick meals/snacks I’ve found that make my rushed mornings a whole lot easier to manage. A simple cut up apple with a scoop of peanut butter, handful of granola and sprinkle of cinnamon takes me a few minutes to make, while at the same time filling both my heart and my stomach. Research fast recipes that include all your favorite foods - you never know what you might find!

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Method #2: Meal Prep Ahead of Time

Meal prep is all over the internet and I have to say: It actually works. I’m always hesitant when a new food/diet trend becomes popular, but I’m pleasantly surprised with this one. I actually love to cook, but almost never have time on weekdays, so I started meal prepping on weekends.

I’d make something easy to cook in large amounts, like salads, overnight oats, spiced chickpeas and different types of pasta. This can be super quick and easy, even for those with busy schedules.

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Method #3: Switching Up Foods

Eating the same thing every day gets boring, so why not switch it up? The more variety you include in your diet, the healthier your gut microbiome becomes. Every time you go to the grocery store, switch up the types of vegetables, fruits, protein sources, etc. you buy. This ensures that you automatically eat diverse foods without even having to think about it.

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Method #4: Combining Leftovers

Some of my favorite meals have been a combination of whatever leftovers were in the fridge. This not only guarantees variety, but is super quick to throw everything onto a plate and pop it in the microwave (or a pan over the stove if you don’t have one). I love throwing some veggies in, along with tofu, spice and rice! Which leads me to the final method…

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Method #5: Rice!

I know what you must be thinking: “Rice???” Just hang in there, let me explain.

About four months ago, my family started putting rice with every meal. Rice with chicken, rice with veggies, rice with shrimp. I realized how simple and filling and delicious it was to let the rice soak up all the leftover sauce from everything else.

You can buy it in bulk without it being super expensive and it goes with almost everything. It’s super easy to make and you can store containers of cooked rice in the fridge, heating some up when you need it. You can even get some seaweed on the side and use whatever else is in your fridge to make your own sushi rolls. There’s also so many different kinds (which you can switch up each time or even combine!): white, brown, jasmine, wild, etc.. If you get bored with one, move on to the next.

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Healthy Doesn’t Have To Be Hard

Eating healthy can actually be easy! Find whatever method works for you, we’re all different. Maybe you just have to discover the right recipe that will become your next go-to quick meal.

Maybe you just need to make the same meals, while switching up the ingredients each week. Maybe you just need rice! Whatever it is, there is no right or wrong answer, it’s all up to you.

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