7 Shortcuts That Simplify Healthy Living

How often have you heard the saying “we all have the same 24 hours in a day”? This seemingly motivating phrase is meant to inspire individuals to prioritize healthy living and take better care of themselves. But it oversimplifies the effort of setting and implementing goals and disregards the challenges that many people have in life (that are often beyond their control).

Healthy habits do take effort – and some combination of time, energy and resources/money; however, taking care of yourself from the inside out is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself. We can’t give you more time in the day, but we can offer up some shortcuts that actually make healthy living easier and more sustainable in today’s busy world!

Read on to learn more.

1. Sign up for a meal prep/delivery service.  

Picking out healthy recipes, making a grocery list, doing all the shopping, prepping the ingredients, then cooking the food? From-scratch cooking can be a major time commitment.

Minimize food waste and reduce prep time with a meal delivery service like Blue Apron, HelloFresh or Green Chef. These services provide pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes for balanced meals. They’re a great way to bring different recipes into your meal rotation and try new foods.

2. Save time with pre-cut and pre-packaged ingredients.

Yes, we should all be eating more whole foods – but that doesn’t mean we can’t take shortcuts with fruits, veggies and other whole foods. Buy already cut veggies or fruit, prewashed salad mixes and canned beans at the grocery store to save time on prep without sacrificing nutrition. You can even find pre-marinated or pre-seasoned proteins at some supermarkets, making meal prep quicker.

Check labels to avoid added sugar, salt and other unwanted ingredients.

3. Use a fitness app or take an online class.

Planning your own workouts is a fun challenge, but unless you’re a trainer or experienced athlete, you’re better off spending more time working out and less time thinking about working out. You can save time (and often see better results) by using a fitness app or taking an online class. Apps often include features like guided workouts, progress trackers and motivational reminders.

These are often cheaper than a gym (and you save the time you’d spend driving there), and you can still get a good workout from home.

4. Don’t like capsules? You have options!

From digestive enzymes and fiber supplements to probiotics, there are plenty of ways to take supplements that aren’t a traditional “pill” format. Gummy vitamins are always an option, but so are gummies for stomach soothing, metabolism and digestive support.* There are even gummies that deliver 5 grams of fiber!

If you want to multi-task, we have a tropical pineapple drink mix with 3-in-1 essentials (electrolytes for hydration, baobab fiber for hunger and amino acids for muscle health).*  Or try a probiotic drink mix, to make your hydration do double duty!

5. Turn to kitchen gadgets for help.

Small kitchen appliances can make a big difference in your cooking and eating habits! A slow cooker or Instant Pot lets you prep meals with less effort. An air fryer serves up your favorite crunchy foods with less oil and calories (and they are basically mini ovens, ideal for smaller households). Food choppers make prepping healthy salads a breeze.

The newest gadgets can be pricy, so prioritize appliances you will use regularly. (Ex: an air fryer vs. an ice cream maker) Look for sales on Facebook Marketplace or watch your local “buy nothing” groups.

6. Pack snacks to stay ahead of hanger!

If you spend more time on the go than at home, save money and fight “hanger” by keeping healthy snacks with you. Mixed nuts, whole-grain crackers, protein bars and jerky don’t require refrigeration. Have access to a fridge or cooler? Take lean proteins, hummus and veggies, a smoothie with fresh fruit and protein powder or Greek yogurt with you.

Struggle with portion sizes? Choose single-portion snacks or divide up bigger bags ahead of time.

Even gas stations and convenience stores have caught on to the healthy snacking trend. The chips and candy are still there – and taking up most of the space – but you can also find plenty of the healthy options we shared!

7. Subscribe and save is basically a personal assistant.

Subscriptions let you free up a bit of brain space by automating purchases so you never run out – and never have to remember when to reorder. In addition to household staples, cosmetics and toiletries on sites like Amazon, you can also have all your favorite supplements shipped straight to your door at your convenience.

Enzymedica’s subscribe and save program gives you discounts equivalent to 20% off MSRP, and you’re in charge of deciding how much you need and how often. (And you can cancel anytime!) There’s even a way to automate your farm-fresh produce. Sign up for CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or services that bring regular deliveries of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Search for them in your area or ask your fave farmers market vendors if they have a CSA option!