Enhance Your Fitness Program With Healthy Convenience Foods

Not many people combine the thought of getting in shape with convenience foods. It isn't a typical association that takes place when discussing fitness programs. Convenience food isn't usually considered the epitome of healthy eating, but there are some convenience foods perfectly suited for healthy living. Let's take a look at three categories and their healthier convenience food choices while on a fitness program:

Snacks
Everyone who is on a diet and exercise program knows that small snacks throughout the day helps the body metabolism stay on track. The trick is to choose snacks that are low in calories and high in nutrients so the calories you do consume are not empty. 
There are many foods that qualify in this category. Consider nibbling on a half cup of raw almonds or walnuts for a real power boost. Celery dipped in hummus is another quick pick-me-up that not only adds nutrition but also much needed hydration for the body. If you make your own hummus, save some of those garbanzo beans and roast them in a little olive oil; then lightly salt and you've got a crunchy snack that's ready when you are.
Adding low fat yogurt to your list of snack foods will not only give you another source of calcium and protein, but will also provide healthy bacteria which aids in digestion. Dried fruits are a quick way to sweeten up the yogurt without adding refined sugar. Fresh and frozen fruit will also perk up that cup of yogurt. Throw in a bit of healthy granola for crunch and even more nutrition.
Ready-made trail mix and snack bars are an especially fast way to get a bit of nutrition in your system. Be sure to check the label of any prepackaged food to be sure of the different health benefits. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, choose your snack accordingly.

Drinks
Of all the convenient drinks you can consume, believe it or not, water is the best. Helping to flush extra fats from your body, drinking liberal amounts of water throughout the day can have a dramatic effect on your fitness levels. If your fitness program includes extreme exercise, weight lifting, running, walking long periods of time, you can add bottles of vitamin-enhanced and electrolyte balancing water to add additional nutrition.
A great option for adding nutrition to your diet while you're in a fitness program is with fruit and vegetable smoothies. You don't need fancy equipment, just a blender. Add milk, banana, flax seed, and honey for a tasty and nutrient-rich drink. Other fruits and berries, like papaya and blueberries, are known for their super-food status among fitness folks. Mix up a variety of drinks using whole foods for the best results.
If you are seriously working out on a regular basis, there are a variety of drinks available on the market to help with your fitness goals. Protein shakes and other forms of energy supplements can be found at health food stores or online. Beware that these supplements are meant for the serious fitness buff. If you are lifting weights, building muscle, or training for a marathon, you may consider these in addition to your daily dose of water and nutrient rich foods.


Meals
Large convenient meals don't exist. At least healthy ones don't. While you could swing by the local burger joint and pack on enough calories to feed a small village, this is not the way to go when trying to get healthy. By keeping meals smaller, you can retain the convenience factor and maintain your healthy goals.
Salads probably come to mind first when thinking of low calorie nutritious meals. You can add the convenience factor by buying bagged, cut up vegetables when you can. Make your salads with a variety of greens, topped with tuna, or shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Include a healthy mix of veggies, top with nuts and a sliced hard boiled egg for a filling meal that's good for you. Use a light homemade vinaigrette dressing instead of a bottled creamy dressing like Ranch, Bleu Cheese, or Thousand Island to avoid the unwanted calories, fat, salt, and even sugar.
Also, beans such as black beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, navy beans, and the like are not only convenient, but are considered the powerhouse of convenience foods. Mix a bunch of beans together in a salad, toss with a vinaigrette dressing, add onion, and you have a filling meal. Keep a bunch of cooked brown rice on hand and when it's dinnertime, heat together with two or three varieties of beans with tomatoes, garlic, and onion, and you have a satisfying bean and rice casserole. Throw a couple cans of beans in some vegetable or chicken broth and in minutes you have a hearty and healthy soup. Staying home nice and snug after a workout and throwing together some beans and rice sure sounds more convenient than sitting at a drive-through window.
Getting healthy while feasting on convenience foods is not typically talked about in the same breath. Eating fast and healthy while on a fitness program is an often overlooked struggle. But, with a little planning and attention to detail, you can enjoy healthy snacks and meals that are ready in minutes.

  Three Healthy Smoothie Recipes

 
Fruity Wheat Germ Smoothie
1 ripe banana
1 cup vanilla low-fat or nonfat yogurt
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 cup sliced fresh peaches
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 cup cracked ice (optional)
Break up banana and put in blender with yogurt, orange juice, peaches, and wheat germ.
Blend on high until frothy. Add cracked ice or shaved ice if desired at this time and blend again. Serve immediately. To sweeten up your smoothie, drizzle in a little honey with ingredients.

 
Silky Tofu Berry Smoothie
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup soy milk
1 banana
1 cup frozen berries (blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry)
1/2 cup silken tofu
1/2 tsp honey
Put all ingredients in blender and blend on frappe speed until smooth and frothy. Serve immediately. This drink is loaded with protein and antioxidants and makes a perfect drink for breakfast or to compliment a fitness program.

 
Breakfast Oats and Fruit Smoothie
1 cup soy milk
1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 banana, broken into pieces
12 frozen strawberries
1 tsp honey
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. You may wish to cut the strawberries in half before you add them, or use mashed strawberries. Serve immediately while smoothies are still frothy.