We understand how it is. Between waking up early, making the kids breakfast, dropping them off at school, getting in a quick workout, and heading to work yourself, it can be hard to find the time to do anything other than grab some fast food for lunch.
At Medics USA, we’re proud to be the primary care provider that you can count on to offer practical advice about how to live a healthier life. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy, but it is definitely always doable — as long as you have the right mindset!
That’s why in today’s post, we’ll be sharing some of the top reasons why you should bring your lunch to work with you and why it’s best to avoid fast food on a daily basis. Keep reading to learn more!
Make Time For Your Health
There’s a quote that’s often attributed to movie director Jim Jarmusch — “Good, cheap, or fast. Pick two.” In other words, if it’s fast and cheap, it won’t be good. This is the combination that perfectly applies to fast food. It’s fast, and it only costs a couple of bucks to fill up from the dollar menu, and although it might taste good (emphasis on might), it’s anything but good for you.
Fast food is generally packed with sodium, and that’s something that Americans are already consuming too much of. In fact, sodium consumption levels are at an all-time high all over the world according to a number of different studies. Needless to say, sodium can lead to a whole host of problems including high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, and more.
Although it’s not always easy, it is definitely smarter in the long run to make wiser food choices.
A Few Suggestions
So what would we suggest? Your best bet is to make food for yourself at home and bring it into work. In addition to being healthier because you control what goes in it, it will also save you quite a bit of money in the long run. After all, even inexpensive fast food adds up when you’re buying it every day!
Our advice is to do your best to create a meal that is nourishing to you and also that tastes good. There are plenty of recipes online that fit that criteria, but you also want something that you can make quite a bit of on the weekend and bring with you to work fairly easy.
Foods You Can Bring With You To Work
One particular idea is to make your own burrito bowls. Find a recipe you like that mimics the taste of chicken from Chipotle or Qdoba and grill it up over the weekend. Make a big batch of brown rice as well, and sautee up some onions and peppers. All that’s left is to assemble your bowl into a container before leaving for work. A scoop of brown rice will get you some complex carbs, the chicken will provide you with protein, and the veggies…well, they’re good for you because they’re veggies! Bring a small container with a bit of cheese and sour cream (and some healthy homemade salsa or guacamole if you’re up for it) and you’re off to the races. Heat it up in the microwave, add your colder toppings, and go sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather we’re having in Ashburn and a healthy meal that you made yourself.
The point is that the possibilities for eating healthier are endless, and that they’re even easier than you might think. Throw some chicken breasts into the slow cooker on Sunday morning, then pull it apart in the evening. Bring a bag of romaine and your favorite dressing with you to work and you have the makings of a refreshing salad. Spiralize a zucchini, saute it with some olive oil, and add garlic, tomatoes, and marinara and you have super-simple healthy pasta.
Are these ideas more work than getting fast food every day? Perhaps, but only a little bit more, and as you can probably tell, there are a lot of possibilities out there that you may not have even considered. Do a bit of research and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how great of a meal you can make without much effort.
Is It Time For Your Annual Physical Exam?
Whether your goal is to lower your blood pressure, find a solution for an ailment, or just to get a checkup and make sure that everything looks good, you’ll find that the team at Medics USA is here to help. We pride ourselves on offering the best care in four different locations across DC and Virginia.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment and rest assured that when you choose to visit Medics USA, we’ll take great care of you at every step of the way. We look forward to seeing you!