Fast Diet Fixes Need That Food Fast?

Too busy to bother with cooking? Too tired at the end of a long day?

You’re not the only one but this can be a major diet derailer…

When you need your food fast it can be far too tempting to call up for a fat-laden takeout meal.

If you know your weakness is for pizza or Chinese food, throw out the menus and delete those numbers from your phone.

You’re less likely to eat takeout if it’s not so easy to get hold of!

If you really must have that Chinese, opt for healthier alternatives such as chicken chow mein rather than sweet and sour pork which is laden with fat and sugar.

It can be just as fast – if not faster – to whip up a healthier alternative yourself with ingredients you already have at home.

Chopping and stir-frying lean protein and vegetables with soy sauce and noodles takes seconds.

And the good news is that you can buy all of this ready prepared from the supermarket.

Another healthy alternative is pasta with a sauce made from a can of chopped tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic.

Add some herbs and a side salad to make a complete meal but make sure you lay off the cream and cheese to keep this low fat.

Here are some more tips to help you choose healthier takeout options:

Avoid creamy or cheese sauces – choose tomato or vegetable based ones instead.

Opt for steamed rice over fried rice or ditch the starch altogether and order up a side dish of stir-fried vegetables.

If you’re having a burger, go for a regular, single-patty hamburger and avoid extra cheese, bacon and high-fat sauces such as mayonnaise.

Swap a cheese-stuffed crust pizza for a thin, crispy crust and choose lower fat toppings such as chicken, shrimp and vegetables.

Don’t supersize – always go for the regular size when ordering a takeout or choosing a convenience meal.

Another great tip for you if you need your food fast is to plan ahead.

Taking just 10 minutes to plan your shopping and diet for the week will save you a lot more time than simply shopping and eating on impulse.

Stock up your store cupboard with pasta, rice, spices, soy sauce and so on.

Then you can quickly and easily make a meal in minutes when you add in some simple, fresh ingredients such as:

Fresh fishCanned fish in spring waterLean chickenFresh vegetablesPulsesAnd beans

All of which can be used in a huge variety of healthy, low-fat meals.

To save even more time, plan and buy those fresh ingredients in one, weekly trip to the supermarket.

Then you will have everything organised and ready for you to whip up those meals.

Learning to plan and shop in this way helps to break the fast food habit as you learn it’s just as quick and easy to make your own food – and much better for your waistline!