Channel: Lee Health

Category: Education

Tags: clinical dietitianeasy grab-and-go snackdining outcooking at homemeal planningprepare snacks for the weekprepare meals for the weekhungrynutritionplanning aheadnutrition goalsunhealthy choiceshealth benefitsgrocery shoppinghealth goals

Description: Whether you're grocery shopping, dining out, or cooking at home, health experts say planning ahead can make a big difference to your health. "That could be as simple as deciding which meals you're going to cook at home and what it is that you're going to cook. Having that plan set at the beginning of the week will help to keep you on track for your nutrition goals," said Lee Health clinical dietitian, Noel Konken. It's easy to be tempted by unhealthy snacks when we're hungry and on the go, so she recommends prepping your meals and snacks for the week. "Whether that means cutting up some fresh fruits and vegetables at the beginning of the week, putting them at eye level in your refrigerator so that they're an easy grab-and-go snack. A lot of times we are picking our more salty, high-fat snack items because they're convenient," said Konken. If you plan on eating out, look at the menu ahead of time. Choosing your meal in advance can keep you from making unhealthy choices when you get there. "Sometimes when we're really hungry and we sit down at a table, we may choose not as nutritious of a meal. Picking out one or two meals online ahead of time can help us stay on track and not have our hunger get the best of us when we are dining out," she said. When you're grocery shopping, plan ahead by making a list, and don't shop hungry. Just a few tips that can keep you focused on your health goals. View More Health Matters video segments at LeeHealth.org/Healthmatters Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Lee Health - Caring People. Inspiring Care. Visit LeeHealth.org