Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Powered By Bits!

If you are reading this post it hopefully means that you took part in the Energy Bits Powered By Bits Twitter Chat.  If you are just stumbling upon this post on your own, that's fine, too! Welcome!



The topic of my chat was How To Eat Healthy With a Busy Schedule.
Questions about eating healthy are some of the most asked by my students and friends, so it only made sense to chat about it on Twitter.
I work 30-40 hours each week, managing a fitness studio and teaching about 20 classes per week.  This means I am on the go every day and rarely have time to sit down to a traditional one hour lunch break.  Even if I do get a lunch hour, I still like to keep it healthy.  So here, today, I would like to re-post the questions from Twitter and go a little more in-depth with my answers
To check out the Twitter feed simply search #poweredbybits and you can read through all of the questions and wonderful answers!

Question 1:
How do you eat healthy at work?
Answer 1:
I pack fresh cut veggies and fruits, nuts and whole grain crackers. I never head to work or an event without packing a lunch/snack. 
Great re-usable containers are a must.  I love bento-style containers!
My favorite packable meal:
Sliced celery
Carrot sticks
Cherry tomatoes (yellow are my favorite!)
1 Babybel cheese
A scoop of nuts ( I LOVE the Wasabi mix from Trader Joe's!)
Grapes or a Cutie Orange
Multi-grain chips (I love Food Should Taste Good brand)
Sometimes I eat this as my lunch or dinner, all at one sitting, but typically I pick a few to eat throughout my day.

Q2:
The drive home from work can be dangerous.  What are your tips for avoiding drive-thru and gas station fare?
A2:
I always fill my water bottle before I leave for the commute home.  I goal myself to try and drink most of the 24 ounce container during my 25 minute drive.  This helps me to make sure I am getting plenty of water and keeps me from being tempted to stop for a burger or bag of chips.  When I am starving on the drive home I, like most, fantasize about pulling up to a fast food restaurant or running into a convienience store to grab whatever is nearest the cash register to munch on during the ride home.  What I do to keep this from happening is really think about how this will make me feel after I eat it.  Sure, the gooey bean and cheese burrito will satisfy my craving, but I know that I will feel heavy and full in a not-so-great way after I eat it.  I then think about the healthy meal waiting for me at home and how I will feel full in an energized and healthy way after eating that.  The drive home, with my big cup of water, is a perfect time to take a handful of Energy Bits.  The spirulina algae fills me up, revitalizes me and provides me with protein and so much more!



Q3:
Do you allow yourself a cheat day?
A3:
I feel like labeling a day as a "Cheat Day" can cause problems.  I always envision a cheat day as eating everything in site like Cookie Monster.  Taking in an insane amount of bad calories in one day leaves me feeling yucky, inside and out.  So, rather than giving myself a cheat day, or recommending that to clients, I prefer the 80/20 approach.
80% of the week, lets say Monday-Friday, I eat very healthy.  My fresh foods, lean proteins, etc.
20% of the week, lets say Saturday and Sunday, I take a more liberal approach and may have dinner at a Mexican restaurant, an ice cream cone, or split a bag of movie popcorn with my boys.  Notice I used the word "or" not "and".  I try to remain pretty healthy even on my 20% days, but on the other side of that, I hate feeling deprived.  So, if I want a Cobb salad with blue cheese or a chicken salad sandwich on sourdough, I eat it, but I know that my next meal will be less cheat-like.

Q4:
How do you eat healthy when traveling?
A4:
The first thing I do when I am traveling is head to the market.  I pick up fresh veggies and fruits, single-serving packages of nuts or dried fruit and big bottles of water.  This way I know that I will have healthy options.  I pack my purse/bag the same whether I will be wandering around a big city or hiking wilderness trails.  I also allow myself a few extra fun meals or snacks when traveling.  Why deprive myself of a Whattaburger or Rita's Italian Ice that I can't get in my hometown?  When in Rome, right?



Q5:
What is your favorite on-the-go breakfast?
A5:
Sprouted grain toast topped with nut butter and bananas.  And a sprinkle of cinnamon!  Easy to eat during the commute or while sitting and checking emails.  My true, crazy-busy, no time to spare breakfast would be a banana or a Larabar :)

The point of the Twitter chat was to throw out my questions and receive lots of helpful answers, so, if you haven't already tweeted your answers, please use the comment section below to give your answers and tips!

As the host of the Powered By Bits chat I am lucky to get to host a giveaway!
One winner will receive an Energy Bits travel tin filled with 50 spirulina bits!
I just love Energy Bits and Vitality Bits, the fact that they are organic, just one ingredient (algae) with no fillers, chemicals, sweeteners...nothing but the good stuff.
A raisin is a dried grape, a bit is dried algae.  Simple.

Entering to win is easy!  Just post a comment below with your favorite healthy eating tip to be entered.  To gain an extra entry follow @EnergyBits and @forwardfrmheart (that's me!) on Twitter and let me know you did in the comment section along with your Twitter handle.

Good luck!

All readers can head to BitsOfHealth.com to order their very own bag of bits and use the code HEART to receive 20% off of your order!




16 comments:

  1. I follow both you and Energy Bits on Twitter @JennyWimbley. I like to eat healthy by bringing to work either Almond Butter and Banana on Whole Wheat toast, or I bring Greek Yogurt with berries as a snack. Sometimes both, one for before lunch, one after, for that 2:00 p.m. lull lol.

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    1. Hi Jenny,
      Thanks for entering and for the great tips! I love Greek yogurt, too!

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  2. I'm not on twitter but I follow you and energybits on Instagram!! After I run in the morning I am always rushing to get out the door to school so I make overnight oats to eat in class or I make a quick smoothie with a banana, PB, spinach, cocoa powder, skim milk, and chia seeds.

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  3. ^that was me, updated my name so you can give me some seaweed lovin' ;)

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  4. You are so good, girlfriend :)

    http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com

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  5. :) Following both of your twitter accounts (I'm PortAPilates)!
    As for healthy eating tips... I'm always driving around between numerous contract jobs, and I know that many women are shuttling kids around all over the place, which is a similar lifestyle. No matter what, I always keep a ziploc of almonds, or something similar (almonds being one of the healthier nuts, and I like 'em), in my car for "hunger emergencies". I try not to eat them just to eat them--I save them for when I'm truly hungry and want to eat my arm off. This keeps me from stopping off and buying something disastrous between jobs (especially since most of what I do is fitness and nutrition oriented--walk the walk!)

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    1. Love these tips! And for sure, we as fitness professionals need to walk the walk. I think you are also going to see that Energy Bits come in handy to keep stowed in your bag for hunger emergencies. How? You WON the giveaway! C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!!! I just know you will love being #poweredbybits

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  6. I follow you both on twitter (LKellyNutrition :) ) I plan my meals for the next week by Wednesday. This way, I go grocery shopping Thursday or Friday, prep on Sundays and I am ready for my meals. I always keep a crustless quiche and roasted veggies in the fridge :)

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    Replies
    1. Great tips! Thank you for stopping by! I hope you will follow my blog :)

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  7. Water - water first thing in the morning usually with bit of squeezed lemon. Always gets my day started off right. I just heard about Energybits and I'd like to try them out. I"m training for a full marathon in April 2014 (@krisharper27)

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  8. My favorite healthy eating tip - BE PREPARED!! Pack a lunch, bring healthy snacks with you, check out local grocery stores when traveling, etc. Yes, it may take an extra 5 minutes, but it is WELL WORTH IT in the end!!

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  9. I follow both you and EnergyBits on Twitter. My handle is @CarleeMcDot (PS It was great chatting with you on the #PoweredByBits Twitter Chat last week!!

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  10. A big congratulations to SeekingNewNormal! You are the winner of the giveaway! I think you are going to LOVE being #poweredbybits and having them along to fuel your busy days!
    Thank you to everyone for entering! Check out bitsofhealth.com to order and make sure to use code HEART to save 20% off your order every time. I'm here if you have questions!
    -Sally

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-Sally