It seems that we’re all busier these days. The effects of our hectic schedules make it not only hard to juggle multiple work and family demands, but it can also be damaging to your health. That’s because we’re seeking faster, more convenient food options, and cooking less real food. Fast or fast casual foods are often loaded with artificial ingredients, preservatives, and contain very little nutritional value. And when you do get to the grocery store the isles are filled with unnatural, unhealthy, processed foods loaded with harmful ingredients.

For residents of Newtown, CT, and surrounding upper Fairfield County, CT there are a handful of grocery stores and plenty of fast food options. But when it comes to a quality source of fresh, healthy foods, the choices are limited. That’s why we opened Butcher’s Best Country Market. We provide a unique, local source of natural, healthy, fresh foods, with several options, like prepared foods, that help make meal times faster and easier without sacrificing the health benefits.

So what are a few things you can do to eat healthier amidst a hectic schedule? The first is to plan ahead. Taking a moment to plan your meals on a less busy day (like Sunday) is a great way to ensure you’ll make the right food choices. Shopping while you’re hungry and/or on the move, can lead to poor ingredient choices. Make a concerted effort to avoid things that are packaged and processed. When it comes to raw food, make sure to shop for antibiotic and hormone free beef, chicken and dairy, grass fed beef, and nitrate free cured meats like bacon.

Choose a day to cook a few meals for the week, or month, and then freeze portions for a steady supply of home cooked dinners. This can be a fun event that involves the family. Just remember to date and label each meal for easy identification. To get even more days out of your efforts consider doubling the recipes.

We all know it can be easy to swing by the vending machine around 3:00 PM for a snickers or some oreos. To help avoid the temptation, pack healthy snacks ahead of time, and bring them with you to work. Examples would be a banana and some almonds, whole-wheat crackers with peanut butter, oatmeal, pita chips with hummus, etc.    

Healthy prepared foods are a great way to get fast meals and eliminate the pressure to cook every night. By the time you get home, and get the kids settled, it can be late to start preparing an entire meal, let alone a healthy one. Choose prepared cooked foods, and prepared ready to cook meats, from a reputable store with fresh, natural options. These types of meals can be great for lunch, dinner, or snacking. When the prepared foods come from Butcher’s Best you know it will be flavorful and contain only the freshest, all natural ingredients.

Breakfast is the most important part of the day and we often skip it in the midst of our busy schedules. This meal is important because it immediately boosts your energy levels and returns your blood glucose to normal after a long period of rest overnight. As part of eating healthier on the go, look for healthy breakfast foods that don’t require a formal sit-down. Your body will thank you for it later in the day.

Adjusting your eating habits can be challenging. It’s never easy to implement a new routine, but consider the importance of your overall health. Once you get into the groove of things you’ll never look back.