How many times have you been blazing through your day and all of a sudden you feel like you are trudging through quicksand in the fog? Then you stop for a second and notice your stomach has a death-grip on you and growling like the lions during feeding time at the zoo – you then realize you have not eaten all day. It is so common for people to get caught-up in the hustle and bustle of the day and forget to fuel their body. It is a strange common occurrence if you think about it for a moment… How often do you see someone out of gas standing on the side of the road? Not very often, right? The reason is, cars have a gas gauge that warns the driver when they are low on gas and the driver knows that in order to continue on, he or she must stop and put gas in the car. We all know we need gas in the car in order to get from point A to point B. Why then do we ignore the warning signs of running out of fuel our body sends us of hunger and fatigue and just keep going? The most common reason I hear is there just isn’t time to stop to get something to eat. If you want to be healthy and continue to make it through your day, you have to make time. With a little planning, you can have the time to eat and you will find you have more energy throughout the day enabling you to be more productive and happier along the way.

The first thing you need to do is make a trip to the grocery store with a list of some easy to prepare and pack snacks. The next thing you may need to do is set an alarm that goes off every three to four hours reminding you to eat. Your small snacks do not have to take much time out of your day, but do take the time to taste and appreciate your healthy food choices.

Suggestions for fueling the body on the go:

Veggies: Purchase big bags of baby carrots, celery, radishes, and snap peas and when you get home separate the veggies into smaller individual baggies you can easily slip into your bag before work.

Cheese & crackers: If you are a cheese and crackers fan, then you might consider packing a single serving of wheat crackers with a string cheese or a wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese that packs a lot of flavor into a 35-calorie creamy wedge.

Chocolate Lover: If you love chocolate, Jell-O Fat-Free Pudding Snacks are a handy option because you can satisfy your craving with one indulgent 65 calorie serving.

Incredible Edible Egg: A food that has been getting a bad rap for years is the egg. Get over it because eggs are good for you. Eggs are a good source of iron and protein and one medium hard-boiled egg delivers a host of essential vitamins and just 81 calories.

Go Nuts: A small bag with 10 almonds will give you a satisfying 100-calorie snack that is high in Vitamin E and rich in Monounsaturated Fat, which is the “good” fat that helps in lowering LDL Cholesterol. Walnuts are an excellent source of Omega-3 fatty acids and they also help lower cholesterol.

Fruit and Fiber: Food high in fiber helps to fill you up and keep you feeling full longer. Some options here might include individual sized popcorn, an apple, banana, pear or orange.

Food is to your body as coal is to the old-fashioned steam engine. You need to add small amounts of fuel to the fire (or food to your body) every three to four hours to keep it running smoothly and efficiently. If you keep up with the small, frequent meals, within a short time you will begin to notice positive changes to your overall health. Your digestion will improve; your energy level will increase as well as your mental clarity.

It takes no time to fail and just a little time to prepare for success.