Being a dad means you have to deal with a ton of responsibilities on a daily basis, but being a working one with lots of professional duties on your back can be even worse. That probably means you’re torn between your family and your work, and chances are you’re not able to give your 100% to either one. Therefore, you have to find a way to strengthen up a bit and give your body some fuel, and the best way to do so is by eating healthy and natural food.
Finding time for that seems like the toughest thing in the world at first, but it’s actually not as big a problem as it initially seems. All you need to do is figure out a few dishes you love more than anything else and build your diet around them. If you’re still unsure how to do that, here are a few tips on how you can eat healthy even if you’re a busy working dad.
The importance of good food
Although sticking to KFC’s chicken wings and Coca-Cola sounds like the perfect meal plan when you’re in your twenties, it’s definitely something you shouldn’t be doing if you’re a dad – no matter how old you are! Even the youngest of dads need some proper food in their bodies every single day because of one simple thing: they’re dads! And being a dad means you’re responsible for your family and you must never run out of strength.
Let’s face it: chasing after kids all day long can really take a toll on you, but if you make healthy food choices, you’ll still be able to do so and have some time for your significant other too. Moreover, you’ll be able to perform at your best at the office day after day, and that’s rather important as well. Therefore, you should understand why cooking is vital, but also master a few simple techniques that will put fresh food in front of your family every single day.
One meal at a time
If you’re working full-time, turning into an absentee father is rather easy – after all, you have a commitment to your company and there’s no way of ignoring it, or else you’ll get fired in a matter of days. That’s why it’s essential to find a balance between private and professional life, and juggling a desire to eat healthy food makes things even more complicated. Luckily, there’s a solution that’s highly effective and something you should definitely try.
Instead of freestyling your daily menu and not knowing what you’re going to be eating next, you should always plan your meals in advance and be certain that they’re as healthy and nutritious as they can be. This way, if you know what you’ll be cooking next, you can prepare your ingredients and your kitchen beforehand and do your weekly shopping knowing you’re buying the most nutritious items you can find. This is why you should give healthy meal plans a try and why sticking to them is so important. So, start thinking in advance as soon as possible, and you’ll see how much this will help you bring your A game both in the kitchen and in the office!
Start the day right
Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that’s true for working dads as well. However, their breakfast is twice as important because they’re preparing it for themselves and their family, so you need to think well into the future and make sure you don’t run out of breakfast ideas and natural ingredients. Again, if you want your breakfast to be super nutritious and healthy morning after morning, you should plan ahead and make a schedule.
What’s great about breakfast is that you don’t have to put a ton of time, money or energy into it: all you have to do is keep a few different ideas on your mind and adapt them to the wishes and preferences of your kids and your partner. You can make something really simple and easy, such as cereal or oatmeal, or something a bit more complex but equally healthy – scrambled eggs, fruit salad, a healthy sandwich and some freshly squeezed fruit juice are always a good option – and you’ll be able to provide your family with a nice breakfast all the time. Remember to serve it on time, so that nobody’s late for school and work.
In the end, you need to keep another thing in mind: don’t forget to give yourself enough healthy food every day of the week too. Taking care of your kids and working full-time is exhausting, but you need to stay at the top of your game, and lots of healthy food is the only way to do so!