Let's face it, 90+% of us lead lives that are way too busy. We have big demands on our time. School, work, family, etc. Sometimes you don't have time to put something together and you run out the door. What do you eat? Probably something less than ideal from a restaurant, store or fast food joint (yes I do classify them differently from restaurants). For many of us, this is a sticking point and a place we need to improve in.

What I'd like to see is what kinds of things do y'all do to fix the problem? Do you prepare food in advance? What kind? Do you have favorite recipes for on the go food that can be stored in the fridge or elsewhere to be ready to go at a moments notice?

I'm looking for as many suggestions as possible. What works for one, may work for many.

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* tins of tuna and salmon, with the ring pull
* packaged salad from woolworths, even includes a fork
* fruit, apples and bananas I have found keep the best
* Energy bars, sesame seed bars
* Tubs of low cal/fat yoghurt
* Individual portions of cheese, you can buy them in a bag of 20g cheeses, different kids.

Despite being very busy working full time and also doing university part time, I never use that as an excuse to eat badly. I will never be like "i had to have mcdonalds cause that was the only thing open". I basically will cook my lunches the night before, whether that be a grilled chicken breast with vegetables, pasta or I might even go and buy some sushi for lunch. For snacks I will have fruit, yoghurt and cheese.
I don't believe in having a light breakfast, you always have time for breakfast - just get up 15 minutes earlier. So usually I have a cooked breakfast.

Dinner, I usually grill up some meat and steam some vegetables. Basically hassle free. If I am at uni that night I will buy some extra sushi rolls at lunch, take a pre prepared roll and some fruit, or bring soup and heat it up.

Planning ahead is the key I think. I always know what I am eating the day before, being unprepared could lead me to make bad food decisions.

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Starting Weight: 62kg - Current Weight: 57.4kg - Goal Weight: 52kg

Preparation is 99 percent of the battle...

I prepare a lot in advance -and my fridge has lots of little ziplock or glad baggies of stuff thaat i can take to go... or put together a quick and tasty meal.

It's just as easy to cook one meal as it is to cook 2 meals -and save one for later in the week.

No time is no excuse to not eat right - everyone has 20 minutes to do some pre-planning.

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there's a thread in the nutrition section on freezer cooking
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/nutri...r-cooking.html
that might give you some ideas.

and having the pantry stocked iwht some easy go-to items makes meal preparation easy and fairly thought free....

I always have low sodium beans in cans, low sodium chicken or vegetable stock, various canned tomatoes with various herbs in them, a very well stocked spice shelf, and you've got the makings of a hearty soup in pretty much the time it takes the stock ot heat up.

This thread might give you some go-to ideas for your pantry
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/recip...ed-pantry.html

And this thread came from an article in Men's health magazine
http://weight-loss.fitness.com/recip...-eat-week.html

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Thanks Mal, I tried a couple different searches, but not with the right set of keywords apparently.

And yes, I know that preparation is everything, but some tips onwhat works for other people could help. I, for one have never been very good at preparation (genetically enginered procrastination machine - trust me), which is what I am trying to change... one of the many things I'm trying to change...

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I'm not trying to be a pain in the butt here -but it's part of m y nature.

Once a week - I will plan out my meals for the week - and Igenerally get close enoughs -i give my self a leeway for things - like the occassional lunch out - but I try to get things close... and my shopping is planned around that... I will take a list to the grocery store -and I can change my mind about things based on what's on sale... or what looks good.

I have a note on my fridge that dinner will be x on monday, y on tuesday, etc.

I do some prep work ahead of time... I will cut up melon when I get home from the store -takes 5 minutes and it gets it done...

If I'm having chicken breasts for dinner one night - Ill cook double and put it in the fridge for later in the week...

What are things that you like to eat...

make the time to plan out at the very least as a start -what you'll be having for breakfast -- mon - friday - cereal - if it's cereal - make your portions ahead of time... ziplock baggies are your friend

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Sort of like procrastination is part of mine?

BTW, you're not a pain in the butt. I wouldn't have posted the thread if I wasn't looking for input. Yours so far has been good, thank you.

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