Don’t Skip Another Meal Until You Read This

It’s easy to wind up skipping meals deliberately or accidentally. Maybe you’re trying to drop a few pounds quickly. Maybe you’re too rushed to eat breakfast or too sleepy to cook dinner.

What is that hit-or-miss dining doing to your body? Recent studies have found that long hours on an empty stomach can trigger insulin resistance and increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. That’s on top of long-standing evidence that links intermittent fasting to lower energy, irritability, and nutritional deficits.

If you’re ready for a change, check out these safer and more effective alternatives that will let you enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Losing Weight Without Skipping Meals

You may feel virtuous when you save calories by taking a pass on lunch. However, skipping meals can slow your metabolism, increase abdominal fat, and aggravate junk food cravings. There are smarter ways to slim down.

1. Exercise regularly. The smart way to manage your weight is to combine a healthy diet with increased physical activity. Exercise will help you maintain muscle mass, and may even boost your metabolism so you burn more calories even at rest.

2. Make friends with food. Do you think of food as your enemy? Remember, it fuels your body and gives you pleasure. A healthy attitude about food can help you make sounder choices.

3. Consume more vegetables. One of the easiest ways to slim down is to eat more produce. Most fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense.

Planning Ahead to Avoid Skipping Meals

Do meal times take you by surprise? Keep healthy food handy throughout the day by becoming more organized.

1. Stock your pantry. You’ll know what’s for dinner if you keep your cabinets full of basic staples. That includes whole grains, beans, and nuts.

2. Carry supplies. Store yogurt in the office refrigerator for a quick meal. Pack a cooler with carrots and other healthy snacks for car trips.

3. Create weekly menus. Create a meal plan for you and your family so you’ll be prepared for early dinners on the night of the school play or weekend brunches when you have guests. As a bonus, you’ll probably spend less time grocery shopping if you can do it all in one trip.

4. Research travel destinations. Locating the nearest farmer’s market or vegetarian restaurant in any neighborhood is as easy as going online. Line up your options before you leave home.

Saving Time Without Skipping Meals

Balanced meals can be whipped up quickly. Find shortcuts that work with your busy schedule.

1. Simplify recipes. Look for recipes that require only a few ingredients or promise to put dinner on the table in 15 minutes or less. Use shortcuts to streamline your favorite dishes when you’re in a rush.

2. Shop the frozen aisle. Speaking of shortcuts, the freezer section could be your first stop. Frozen vegetables usually have nutritional value similar to their fresh counterparts.

3. Cook in batches. Double the recipe the next time you cook lasagna or chili. Separate the leftovers into individual servings and freeze them for fast meals in the future.

4. Revamp your kitchen. Renovating your kitchen is expensive, but you may be able to make simple adjustments that will speed up meal preparation. Send seldom-used equipment off to the basement to free up space. Buy drawer organizers that will let you grab the steamer immediately instead of searching for it.

Instead of missing meals, give your mind and body the nourishment they need to keep you in top form. Managing your time and losing weight gradually will help you to stay fit and productive.