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If you follow me on social media at all, you most likely know that I recently lost 40 pounds on the program Noom. I truly believe in the program so much for so many reasons and believe that it can drastically change ANYONE’S life. That is why I have partnered with them and left my comfort zone to share my story and knowledge in hopes that it will encourage others who want to lose weight or just make healthier eating choices to do so.
The Coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected everyone in some way, shape or form. Events have been canceled, schools are closing, and grocery stores are running out of many items. Whether you just started your healthy eating journey (Noom or otherwise) or you are a seasoned pro, you likely have noticed some new challenges. I am a member of a Facebook support group for people doing Noom and yesterday I saw a post by a member who said “I just don’t think I can stick with this, the shelves at the grocery stores are empty and it’s too hard”. That inspired me to write this post because there ARE unique challenges to healthy eating during all of this craziness. Frankly there are unique challenges to shopping and eating in general though so you might as well keep doing it in a healthy way.
Grocery Shopping
- BE FLEXIBLE Yes, the stores seem to be out of or very low on new things every day. Work with what they have. Produce does not have a long shelf life and therefore is not something people are drastically hoarding. People ARE shopping more often and buying a little more so you may not see some of your “go-to” fruits and veggies on the shelves. This is a great time to try some new things and think outside the box. Never had eggplant? Look up an eggplant parmesan recipe. Instead of being set in stone on your grocery list, see what the store DOES have and plan your meals around that.
- THINK LONG-TERM Frozen foods and canned goods go quickly but honestly many of the carts I have seen jam-packed full aren’t exactly overflowing with healthy options. Lots of pizzas, ice cream and frozen appetizers and snacks. Yes, a lot of the common frozen and canned veggies are flying off the shelves but you can still find them. While I don’t encourage hoarding anything, buying an extra bag or two of frozen or canned veggies will provide some easy, healthy sides for meals. Frozen fruit is great to keep on hand to add to almond milk and greek yogurt to make a smoothie for breakfast, lunch or just a snack.
- GO EARLY Our community has been great about updating on our local Facebook community page regarding the availability of heavily sought after items and it appears that most stores are doing a great job of restocking daily and seem to have those hard to find items early in the day.
Mindful Eating
With so many cancellations and closings you are most likely spending more long days at home. This can lead to mindless eating and eating out of boredom. Plan ahead for long days at home.
- BREAKFAST Some say it’s the most important meal of the day, but I personally am not that hungry when I first get up. As long as I have my black coffee, I’m happy. I do try to eat a low calorie breakfast on most days because it sets the pace for the day and keeps me from feeling starved by lunchtime and overeating. I also like to know that I haven’t used up half a days worth of calories first thing and whatever the rest of the day throws at me, I can enjoy whether it be an impromptu meal out or a craving for an extra or special snack. If you enjoy a big breakfast and find yourself with the luxury of being able to sleep in due to canceled events, etc. maybe eat a little later and instead of breakfast and lunch, make a large brunch!
- SNACK SMART Being at home can lead to the urge to snack. The more healthy and easy choices available, the easier it is to make good choices. Whether it’s a healthy choice like grapes, or a splurge like chips or crackers, one way to enjoy what feels like carefree snacking is to make some “pre-measured” snack baggies. I like to make 100 calorie baggies of grapes or “serving size” baggies of snack crackers handy for grab and go snacks that prevent overindulging. There are lots of store-bought snack options that are great to keep on hand too. Pre-packaged 100 calorie snacks and things like “no sugar added” applesauce (only 40 calories!) have a long shelf life and are easy to grab from the pantry when the urge to snack strikes.
Meals
Spending more time at home means eating more meals at home. There are ways to do this without having to double the amount of groceries you buyg though.
- MAKE YOUR MEALS STRETCH When planning your meals for the week, think about some dishes you make that always provide leftovers. Leftovers are great for heating up for lunch or maybe adding to another dish to make another dinner. Consider doubling a recipe to make enough to freeze and pull out for a quick and easy meal later.
- TAKE INVENTORY Go through your pantry, freezer and fridge. What items do you have in there that you can use to create meals from? Using up things you already have keeps your cost and need to go out for more groceries down. There are even several websites like supercook.com where you can type in ingredients that you have on hand and it will provide you with recipes to make from them.
Exercise
If there is one thing that all of this craziness has actually provided most of us with MORE of, it is time. With two kiddos in three sports we typically have at least 2-3 sport events every weekend and practices every evening and are finding ourselves with extra time. That is good news for Exercise! While you may be stuck at home with kiddos and it can be easy to hang out on Netflix in your pajamas all day (and if you never get to do that…you absolutely should at least once) but you can also get out for a walk or jog. Play “Just Dance” or shoot some hoops in the drive with the kids. Do some exercises in the comfort of your own home. If you are able to leave, go to the gym. I’m a member of Planet Fitness and have debated how I feel about going to a place where multiple people have touched everything, however if you think about it, it’s the one place where everything gets wiped down after every use! (Hopefully…although it may be a good idea to wipe down before and after just to be sure).
Noom
Now is actually the perfect time to take charge of your weight, diet and health. I truly believe Noom is the best way to do that. It not only will help you lose weight but re-learn how to eat in a way that is healthy but doesn’t deprive you from the things you love or enjoying celebrations with friends and family so it’s something you can do realistically for life! You can click on my affiliate link below to see YOUR plan and try it risk free for two weeks (and most likely at least lose 5 pounds in that two weeks). You will do things like track your weight and log your meals so there is a bit of a new routine to figure out which makes the extra time you probably have right now the PERFECT time to get started!
Green Grapes. Quick, easy, sweet, crisp and low cal. These are nature’s perfect grab and go sweet treat. I munch on them when I get a late-night craving for something sweet and want to do a little guilt free mindless munching or as a side for lunch. Try freezing them for a fun treat! I also like to use my food scale and measure out 100 calorie baggies of them in the fridge. You CAN Noom without making logging a burden! I also keep a variety of berries in the fridge and and bananas and apples on the counter. Fruit is such a great snack or addition to any meal and I have found the the more accessible I keep healthy snacks, the more we make good choices!
Hummus. I love hummus. It’s perfect to spread on a wrap, or as a side with some pita chips or for a lower calorie treat a bell pepper or other veggies. Do your research on brands though. One of the top brands which I frequently used in the past is very high in Sodium, Fat, And Preservatives. It also logs as red I believe (which again…is ok but there are yellow brands out there).
So speaking of hummus…have you tried dessert hummus yet? I know, I know…it definitely sounds weird. But they are soooo yummy! This Brownie Batter is one of our favorites and goes great with fruit!
I love Better Oats Oatmeal. It’s not only a quick, easy, low-cal breakfast but it makes a great comfort snack on a cold day! I see a lot of Noomers Swearing by Steel Cut Oats but at only 100 calories, and less than 1g of sugar…not to mention the added flax seed and the convenience, these are my pick!
Salsa. It’s Green! Before you go racing off to your favorite Mexican restaurant to dig in to the neverending chips and salsa, be clear that I am only speaking of the salsa…not the chips. Not to worry though. Slice up some bell peppers and dip away or spread some on the pepper slices and top with a little cheddar cheese for some low cal nachos!
Applesauce. These pouches will make you feel like (and maybe look like) a kid again. I keep these no sugar added pouches on hand for a quick and easy snack for all of us or to throw into lunches! We love the cherry flavor!
Sometimes you just need some cookies. These little 100 calorie packs of cookie crisps are a good choice. Eat the whole bag without calorie guilt and they aren’t loaded with sugar. I get these at Aldi.
A frozen dessert treat that is GREEN?!?! This frozen yogurt with no sugar added is pretty tasty and pretty guilt free! If you want to make it a little more exciting try adding some sliced bananas, Peanut Butter Powder and maybe a little brownie batter hummus!
I didn’t include this in my top 10 because it isn’t really a snack that is going to satisfy your hunger or fill you up and isn’t exactly “healthy”, but sometimes you just need chocolate. Real chocolate. I keep a bag of these dark chocolate Ghiradelli squares on hand for those times when I’m not hungry, I just want a little chocolate. At only 50 calories, they don’t blow the calorie budget and make mama happy.
There are ups and downs and plateaus. But when you squish it all together and look at the whole picture:
and weigh your fruits, veggies, meats, etc. And don’t stress that much about the colors. Following the colors the best you can will make this easier on you but at the end of the day calories are calories and they don’t know what color Noom decided they were.
