But by focusing on eating right during your move, you can save money and maintain the nutrients you need for a successful move. Eating healthy foods will also boost your energy, which will provide some much-needed motivation throughout your move.
Keep these healthy eating tips in mind as you prepare to move to your new home.
Before the Move
Preparation is the key to any successful move, and the same is true for eating healthy during your move. Before you even start packing, be sure to take the following steps.
Make a plan
How far out is your move? If it’s two weeks away, create a daily menu for what you’ll eat each day leading up to the move. Good meals to make during a move include soups and stews, casseroles, and pastas. You can make these dishes in bulk, so you’ll be able to eat them for at least two or three days.
Creating a menu will help alleviate the stress you feel as your schedule gets busier and busier. Once you’ve made your meal plan, set aside any utensils you’ll need to make these meals. You can pack these utensils together right before you actually hit the road.
Clear out your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry.
It’s tempting to eat out every night leading up to a move. But you’ll save a lot of money by using food that you already have. Plan your daily meals around what you already have in your refrigerator and freezer. You should only buy food to complete these meals.
While You’re Packing
While looking for a home and filling out paperwork is stressful, packing your belongings is perhaps the most stressful and chaotic task of all. Keep the following tips in mind as you strive to eat healthy while you’re packing:
Keep time in perspective
At the end of a long day of packing, all you’ll want to do grab some f
ast food or order a pizza. Keep in mind that it will take about the same amount of time to prepare a meal as it would to have a pizza delivered. Plus, you’ll feel less guilty after preparing a home cooked meal than you would after eating pizza.
Ask for help
Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of your friends or family members. Chances are, your friends or kids would be happy to whip up a healthy meal. Remember: many hands make light work.
While You’re Traveling
Whether you’re moving a few miles away or across the country, driving will make you tired. And when you’re tired, a burger and fries might sound like the most delicious thing in the world. But heavy, processed fast food will make you even more tired. Eat healthy while you’re on the road by doing the following:
Keep time in perspective
Prepare a few meals the night before you hit the road. Store them on ice in a cooler, and be sure to replace ice as needed along the way.
Foods that travel well include:
- Fruits: apples, oranges, grapes, and bananas
- Vegetables: carrots, celery, snap peas, and bell peppers
- Cold pasta
- Green salads (be sure to keep dressing in a separate container)
- Hummus
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Jerky
- Pre-cooked or chilled meats: turkey, chicken, salmon
- Pre-made wraps or sandwiches
Be sure to pack separate meals for every person in the car. This will eliminate the hassle of taking out all of the food and divvying it out to each person.
Plan ahead if you’ll be eating out.
You don’t have to completely avoid eating out en route to your new home. If you want to eat out on the road, find a restaurant that serves healthy options.
Stay busy while you drive.
Driving on long, wide highways can be boring. To keep yourself from dozing off, you may want to munch on salty or sweet snacks. Keep your munching to a minimum by listening to music and talking with those in the car.
After the Move
Arriving at your new home will surely bring a huge sigh of relief. To continue your healthy eating habits and settle in as quickly as possible, keep the following in mind:
Unpack kitchen utensils first
Remember that box of kitchen utensils you packed right before you moved? That should be the first box you unpack in your new home.
Rather than ordering a pizza from a local restaurant your first night in the new house, make dinner. You can run to a local grocery store to pick up a few items to make your first meal in your new home. This will help make your new house feel more like home.
Keep your meals simple
You’ll want to keep your meals as simple as possible until you unpack all of your boxes and really settle into your new home. For simple, healthy meals, stock up on proteins and produce.
Moving doesn’t have to take a toll on your emotional and physical health. By eating healthy during your move, you’ll be able to tackle your to-do list and maintain a positive attitude. For everything else, there’s the team at Bekin. We’ve been offering reliable, professional, healthful moving options to our customers for over a century. Call us today to learn more.
