Avoid the Takeout Trap
By Sara Butler
If the world was a perfect place, then everyone would have a fully stocked kitchen with plenty of time to cook and the skill to do it right. Or better yet, a private chef to do it all for you! But this isn’t a perfect world and many people must do their own cooking. That’s what makes falling into takeout traps so easy. When you’re busy and tired, it’s easy to talk yourself into just stopping at a drive-thru and picking something up. To keep yourself from falling into that trap, get honest about your excuses and recognize when you’re using them so you can avoid it – for your health!
Your Kitchen Isn’t Fully Functional
So your oven has pooped out on you, you’re undergoing a kitchen renovation, or maybe you’re just moving – but not having a fully functional kitchen seems like an obstacle too large to overcome in order to make a nutritious meal for your family. Well, it’s not!
Before you become intimate with every takeout place in your town, consider these cooking alternatives:
- Use the crockpot – You may not have an oven or even a full kitchen, but you’ve probably got an outlet and some disposable dishes. Use your crockpot to make something better for you to eat at home.
- Use the grill – If you’ve got the outdoor space and the weather allows it, then why not use the grill? You can grill just about anything, from fruits and vegetables to potatoes to pizza!
- Get a toaster oven – A toaster oven does more than toast. It’s a tiny oven you can use to make a lot of foods.
If It’s Too Hot Out
Many people don’t want to cook over their hot stove when the weather outside is hot and use it as an excuse to just order out. What you really need to do is come up with dinner options that don’t require an oven, such as a salad, tacos (with rotisserie chicken) or even a cold soup. Get creative!
You’re Traveling
OK, so vacation or travel seems like the ideal time to just go for it and eat out all the time. You should at least try to incorporate healthy eating when you’re on the go. Try these tips to help:
- More frequent, smaller meals
- Healthy snacks you take with you
- Load up on protein
- Grab something from the grocery
Avoid these takeout traps and reap the rewards of good health!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Shreveport, La.