A challenge over the weekends for me has been snacking, in the past I would grab what was convenient which usually was not a healthy choice. If was going to take larger strides during my journey to a healthier me, not only was activity important but I also needed to pay attention to my eating habits.
First thing we did was not to have junk food around…avoid the temptation. Throw it away!
Next my wife came up with what she calls “The Healthy Grub Bag”
Not necessarily a bag but it had a nice ring to it!
We are away from home often on the weekends so we bring a cooler (Healthy Grub Bag) with. While at home, plates in the fridge and a basket on the counter with healthy goodies easily accessible.
Our “Healthy Grub Bag” might contain water bottles, fruit, vegetables, yogurt, string cheese , crackers and almonds.
Maybe take a few minutes and put together your “Healthy Grub Bag ” for your weekend. The key is convenience, easy to get at. I am not suggesting to become ravenous and over eat, continue to make smart decisions with your food consumption.
Let’s make the healthier food choices more convenient. Avoid the junk food!
What would you put in your “Healthy Grub Bag?”
Stay Healthy! Keep your Journey going strong this weekend!
46 users commented in " Healthy Grub Bag "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI always have a healthy grub bag because I need to be prepared at all times when the kids start melting down. Today it was cheese and whole wheat banana zucchini bread….took it over to the kiddie pool 🙂 It’s a great idea because that way you have some control over those desperate times where you may grab anything!
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@Annette, Yes, those kiddies! Thanks for the input! 🙂
-Mark
My health grub bag is my purse (large sized!). I keep small packages of wasabi peas, 100 calorie pkg of oreo cookies & a Dole fruit pack. This way I can avoid temptation better when out & about.
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@DaDivaStreet, Wasabi peas….yum!
-Mark
Hey thanks for my first comment on my blog I was so excited! Yeah this is a great idea, I have a huge uni bag and take things like apples, fruit packs with teaspoons and muesli bars although sometimes the food stays in there a while before I eat it!!
@diet_girl_is_my_hero, Good choices! Thank you! 🙂
Apples and peanut butter; cheese sticks; cherry tomatoes and feta sprinkles!
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@Claudia, cherry tomatoes!
-Mark
Taking along healthy snacks is good for you, convenient if you have kids, and saves you money! We take along-water, yogurt, cheese stix, fruit, and raisins.
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@Tipper, Saves money also…nice perk! 🙂
-Mark
Weekends are always the toughest for me too. Seems like just because I have access to more junk food I tend to eat it. I like the “grub bag” idea. It’ll be hard to convince everyone else in my family to give up the junk food, so maybe I’ll start small and just try to have convenient and healthy choices around as well. Thanks for the idea!
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@Lance, It is a challenge to get all on board, if there are only healthier options around though…. :)?
-Mark
Great idea, weekends are my downfall…if it’s in the house, I just might eat it. Will try out the “healthy bag” idea, sounds great. May keep us away from McDonalds, too.
@Juicebox.mom, Yikes! NO MCD’s 🙂
great idea! I would put in a cheese stick, banana, and some almonds.
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@workout mommy, I love them almonds!
-Mark
We are headed camping this weekend and I was just thinking what I should be putting in our cooler! Thanks for the great ideas… and great timing! LOL
Almonds are a must. Great protein and filling!
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@Tigerlilly, I tend to snack on almonds often…have a nice time camping!
-Mark
This is a very smart idea. I like these vegetable chips, they aren’t the greatest, but healthier than regular chips!
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@Audra Krell, I like those as well!
-Mark
Wonderful idea! I would put some homemade granola bars, cut watermelon, and trail mix in my bag.
@cathy, Good additions…thank you!
Hmmm… I think I would include pistachio nuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, soy nuts, and some fruit – it’s summer, so there are lots of great choices. Blueberries are so yummy right now!
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@FatFighter, Yep, yep, uhuh….I like them all!
-Mark
Such a good idea, Mark. You’re right, if we make eating healthy convenient then it’s much, much easier to stay on track! I like the Healthy Grub Bag concept – I think mine will include some grapes and blueberries, an organic granola bar and some turkey slices.
Jane
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@Jane – Mom Generations, all of the above!
-Mark
Mine would have fruits, lots of them, almonds, edamame, a protein shake and maybe… some fruits.
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@Alice, All good of course!
-Mark
you KNOW I could go on and on.
so Ill just say ALL KINDS of jerky.
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@MizFit, My kids are HUGE Jerky fans!
-Mark
It makes so much difference if you have the healthy food readily available when you are hungry so it becomes the easiest alternative.
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@Dr. Hubbard, So true…thank you!
-Mark
I like that idea. Mine would have: fruits, veggies, almonds, laughing cow cheese, buns (maybe with chicken?) or oatmeal in a ziplock, PB, and some teabags! Can’t go without my tea.
@Sagan, Oh yes..definitely tea. Good call! 🙂
Snacking makes my clothes shrink.
@noble pig, ha! Thanks for you feedback. 🙂
We do the same thing!!! It works so well!!!
@KFJ, It does! Thanks!
Great post and great site. My wife and I always try to keep healthy foods readily accessible.
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@Blake Hagen, Great job! Thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
Hi Mark, great topic! I keep nuts, seeds, small carrots, cut up celery (goes great with nut butter or humus), other small fruits, and water. My criteria is small, light and portable, preferably no carbs. Protein and fiber eliminate hunger cravings, especially balanced with the right fats.
For those just starting with this kind of idea, don’t try to change Rome in a day. Start with a few simple things for a few weeks and then add a few more every 3 – 4 weeks. That’s about how long it takes to form a habit.
Be careful of dried fruits, read the ingredients. They often contain chemicals as preservatives. Naturally dehydrated is best if you can find it, but remember to drink !!lots!! of water. Dehydrated fruits and veggies will draw water from your body in the digestion process leaving you feeling dehydrated. Learned that the hard way.
Great topic! Guess my reply turned into a mini book (grin).
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@Antonia Teixeira, Great feedback with very good input! Much appreciated
-Mark
I keep a small cooler in my car (with apples, bananas, water, nuts/dried fruit in baggies and ice tea (it use to be diet coke)) with several ice packs. If I’m running errands and get hungry, food is waiting in my trunk. It has worked for me. I do miss my diet coke, I must admit.
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@Rosy, Great job…Diet Coke used to be one of my favs. as well. Thanks for sharing!
-Mark
Very good idea! We have a great store around here called “Nuts to You” that I should shop at more often… lots of hand-made fruit and nut mixes for a very great price.
Thanks for the comment.. I’m adding you to my blogroll!
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@Charlotte, What a cool name for a store! Thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
“Healthy Grub Bag” hmm… That has a really nice ring to it! I think your wife is on to something; hehe…
I make the most by eating smaller, healthier snacks (a lot of fruit). I can’t help but splurge every-so-often on something less healthy, but I try…
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@Ribeezie, She definitely is….thanks for your input!
-Mark
That is EXACTLY what hurtled me into my weight loss. I always had a problem snacking, and snacking on bad stuff.
We did the same thing. Got rid of all the temptation in the house, and bought healthy snacks!
A simple but superbly effective measure in monitoring your weight and weight loss!
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@Strong One, You are right on! Throw away the junk! Thanks as always for your feedback!
-Mark
Cherry tomatoes, definitely.
I also like all kinds of dried fruit.
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@Mama Zen, Good choices!
-Mark
Great idea! We have to be careful with the string cheese around my house- 1 is fine, but 4 at a time- not so great. Lots of portable fruit- grapes, strawberries, cherries… I also like bananas with Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal.
@Tammy, String cheese can get eaten up quickly! I like Kashi as well. Thank you!
This would actually be a great idea for my hubby. At work he is always looking to snack so it would be smart for him to have his own little grub bag to pull things from and make healthy choices. 🙂
@Rachel D, That should work out great for him!
-Mark
I like hummus and carrots and laughing cow cheese!
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@FitMom, I like hummus with carrots and celery as well!
-Mark
Ooh…that is a great idea. And lots of good suggestions in the comments. I usually travel with a container of regular cheerios and a pacl of applesauce for my toddler, because you never know what can happen. But, for me? I’m not the greatest. I should start a healthy grub bag right now, this weekend!
Thanks for the good tip.
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@felicepd, We did the same for our little ones…cheerios is always a big hit! 🙂
-Mark
OMG You would NOT want to see what was in mine :-X I’m a horrible junk foodaholic. GAH!
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@Marcy, Thats the point… 🙂
-Mark
Carrot sticks, apples, oatmeal, fat-free plain yoghurt, half-tins of low-fat soup, Ryvita snack packs and low-cal hot chocolate.
Have never been a junk foodie so eating healthy is not a problem – portion control is another matter….!!
TA x
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@tokaiangel, Good choices, yes portion control is a challenge for most. Thanks for sharing!
-Mark
almonds, low fat cottage cheese, natural PB, Ezekiel bread, hummus, vanilla protein powder, mini carrots, sweet potatos, oatmeal, tuna paks…I could go ON and On and ON!!
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@Fitarella, So many good choices! 🙂
-Mark
As a grad student, I find that when I get really frustrated by work I need to munch on a LOT of something. At work and home I always keep a giant bag of baby carrots and lots of bags of smartpop microwave popcorn. I can just munch and munch away while I work and not feel too guilty. I also keep high-fiber Wasa on hand….I know I won’t overeat those or I will suffer a fiber disaster!
Oh, and for super sweet cravings I brew a cup on tea-bag chai, pour in a splash of soymilk, and add a packet of splenda. Way better than the Starbucks!
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@FrayedLaces, great job! Thanks for your input!
-Mark
A great idea, I do the same thing in my school bag with workout and protein bars.
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@John, Protein bars definitely!
-Mark
Carrying healthy snacks around is huge for me. I don’t want to be tempted to eat something I wouldn’t normally eat! 🙂
@Zandria, Avoid the temptation is key! Thanks for your feedback!
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