Maintaining nutritional balance during a pandemic

Fitting in healthy sources of protein that are not fried or naturally high in fat is difficult for any schedule.

No matter if you are working from home, an essential employee, or are currently home full time with a house full of children, the following are ideas on how to batch cook proteins rich foods to go along with vegetables and whole-grain sides.

Eggs

• Hard boiled eggs. Keep in the fridge up to 3 days.

• Baked.

• Make egg cups (see recipe on Sharepoint)

Chicken

• Roasted. Complete at home or grab from the store.

• Slow-cooked and shredded.

Beef

• Meatloaf

• Simple ground beef. Cook once and use multiple ways

Pork

• Pulled Pork Butt. Be sure to remove excess fat prior to cooking slowly.

• Pulled Pork Loin. Leaner option to pork butt.

Turkey

• Meatballs. Cooks and then freeze for an easy grab and heat protein.

• Roasted Turkey Breast

Tips for Ordering Takeout or Delivery

*Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics*

Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you decipher the meal delivery or take-out menu.

• Be mindful of words that may indicate foods high in fat such as, "crunch," "crispy," "battered," "breaded," "creamy," and "cheesy." Look for words such as "grilled," "baked," "roasted," and "steamed".

• Go for vegetables or fruit as a side when available.

• Rethink your drink. Limit calories from sugar-sweetened beverages. Choose options like water, low-fat or fat-free milk or drinks such as unsweetened coffee or tea.

• Be sure to ask for dressings and sauces on the side.

• Plate it. Instead of eating out of the containers, plate your food for a more appropriate portion size with servings are large.