Sticking to a healthy diet does not have to be difficult. There are many foods that can be prepared at home the previous night and taken to work and foods that can be made quickly without a lot of preparation. Knowing which foods are healthiest but also easy to make can help save time and keep an individual on track with a diet.
Yogurt Parfait
The American Dietetic Association, or ADA, recommends a yogurt parfait for a healthy diet snack, and this snack is easy to make. Using fat-free yogurt, berries and granola, layer the foods in a glass to make a parfait. The ADA suggests 6 ounces of yogurt, half a cup of berries and a quarter cup of granola. This snack provides calcium from the yogurt, fiber from the fruit and some fat from the granola for satiety.
Popcorn
Popcorn is an easy-to-make snack food that is filled with fiber. Cookinglight.com states that 3 1/2 cups provide one serving of the daily recommended amount of whole grains. The fiber in popcorn helps an individual feel full on fewer calories. Choose a low-fat popcorn option and do not add butter.
Vegetables
Vegetables, which are very low in calories, are an easy way to add color and nutrients to a healthy diet. Vegetables like carrots, celery and broccoli can be cut into pieces, tossed into a baggie and taken anywhere throughout the day. Sweet potatoes can be heated up at the workplace. A sweet potato is one of the best vegetables to eat, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. It is filled with vitamin C, carotenoids, potassium and fiber. Broccoli provides vitamin C and folic acid. Leafy greens like kale and spinach contain vitamins A, C and K, folate, potassium, iron, calcium and fiber, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
Fish
It may seem contradictory, but eating some fatty fish is actually beneficial to the diet because of the kind of fat the fish contains. Fish with omega-3 fatty acids can help lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol and are good for the heart; these kinds of fish include sardines, mackerel, albacore tuna, salmon and halibut, says the Mayo Clinic. These fish are easy to prepare; they can be baked or grilled, which does not add any extra unhealthy fats to the fish.
Fruit Smoothie
Commercial fruit smoothies can be filled with added sugars, but it is easy to make your own sugarless smoothie. The ADA describes an easy smoothie to make in a blender, consisting of one cup fat-free milk, half a cup of frozen strawberries and half a banana. Experiment with other fruits you enjoy, such as papaya, blueberries, raspberries and peaches--either fresh or frozen.
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