Healthy Eating Tips for Caregivers

As a caregiver, it’s easy to put yourself and your health aside as you are caring for someone else, but it is important to remember that your health is equally as significant. You need your mind to be sharp so you can be there for the people who need you the most. Here are some easy tips you can follow to make sure you are taking care of yourself as a caregiver.

Always eat breakfast

The saying is true: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you skip breakfast, you are putting yourself in a situation where you may become lethargic and sluggish. This may also cause you to make poor food choices later as you are looking for something quick to eat. Make sure your breakfast choices include protein to give you that early morning energy!

Have a snack on hand

Getting hungry in between meals is nothing new, especially when you are using more energy throughout the day caring for someone else. Keeping some snacks like almonds, cashews, crackers with peanut butter is always a great idea. Tasty yet healthy!

Portion Control

While you want to make sure you have some snacks throughout the day, it is important to make sure you are not overeating. When you eat too much, you become sluggish and tired. It important to keep in mind how much you are eating when it comes to each meal and your snacks. If you are making a sandwich for lunch, try using one slice of bread cut in two instead of two slices. If you have a bagel for breakfast, have half now and save the half for later in the day. If you are going out to eat, try boxing half of your meal up before you start so you don’t feel tempted to eat everything on the plate; especially since restaurants will typically give you two servings instead of one.

Sometimes “healthy” just means “healthier”

You don’t need to be perfect when it comes to eating healthy. Just remember to avoid processed foods as much as possible, whole grains are a plus, and get your veggies in—whether they are fresh or frozen!

Prepare meals ahead of time

As a caregiver, you are always on the go. So, it’s important to plan as many meals as you can ahead of time and make multiple servings. The easiest food to prepare is boiled eggs, which are packed with protein. Also, remember your crock pot can become your best friend when it comes to preparing different meals. You can then freeze or stick those meals in the fridge and have for another time.