Beth Sonnenburg

Got time for made-from-scratch meals? Neither do we. Here's how to eat right when racing against the clock.

Fell back to earth when I realized my life resembles more of a Lean Cuisine than a page out of Living. Made-from-scratch meals may be the ideal, but such a goal is often unattainable. Let's face it: Even preparing a grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli takes time, energy and cookware. And who wants to break out the entire collection of Calphalon when you're running late for work or exhausted after a long day?

Lucky for you, eating healthfully can peacefully co-exist with a crammed schedule. When you don't have time to make a delicious and nutritious "Martha meal," turn to our diet-right, real-world suggestions - no pots, pans or oven required!

Supermarket savvy
You may think the quick, easy foods at your local Albertson's or Kroger's are filled with processed, sugary junk - and with good reason. Many packaged foods are indeed sky-high in sodium and additives, besides lacking fiber and whole grains. Fortunately, the aisles of most commercial supermarkets also contain many healthy choices . . . if you know where to look. And we aren't just talking fruits and veggies here: Nutrient-packed boxed pasta and rice mixes, breads, cereals, soups, crackers and even cookies can make great meals in minutes.

We've listed many such items in "Foods to Choose" on page 50 - products that will allow you to quickly assemble meals for those occasions when you don't have time to cook from scratch. Many of the packaged products were deemed "Best Bites" by the Center for Science in the Public Interest's (CSPI) Nutrition Action Healthletter. Their criteria for a Best Bite include lower amounts of percent calories from saturated fat and total fat, sodium content and sometimes total sugar, and higher amounts of fiber.

1  |  2  |  3    

| Print Page | Email to Friend