We understand that a busy schedule can make it difficult to eat healthily. However, there are simple solutions to grocery shopping, meal planning, and prepping that fit into even the tightest of schedules, without adding to your stress levels.

While it may seem like a low priority, fuelling your body with nutritious food can actually make it easier to complete your to-do list. With more energy, you'll be more productive, and you'll feel better, allowing you to be the best version of yourself.

At Root Kitchen we prioritise health and convenience and thought we'd ask our nutritionist, Emma Hogarth, to give us some advice on how to eat healthily even with a hectic schedule.

1.  Cook once, eat all week

Simplify meal prep by batch cooking on the weekend, ensuring that you have a ready-to-eat home-cooked meal every day of the week without having to cook after work.

2.  Do your food shopping online

Save time and prevent impulsive junk food purchases by ordering groceries online, a convenient solution that also supports healthy eating habits. For instance, Root Kitchen vegan meals are already prepared with nutritious ingredients.

3. Stock up on healthy snacks

Avoid the temptation of vending machine snacks by keeping healthy options on hand, such as fruits, nuts, or carrot sticks, which can be conveniently stored in a ziplock bag. Consider chopping up your fruit and veg at the start of the week to last you throughout.

4.  Dust off your slow cooker

For those with long workdays, a slow cooker can be incredibly helpful. Add your choice of vegetables in the morning, and return home to a nutritious and tasty dinner without any additional effort.

5.  Start with a healthy breakfast

Prepare your breakfast the night before to save time and kickstart your day on a healthy note. Emma recommends prepping chia pudding, overnight oats, or your favourite plant based yogurt with fruit. Additionally, smoothies are an effortless and nutritious breakfast option that can be consumed on the go.

6.  Stock up on caned beans

Canned beans are a convenient and nutritious pantry staple for last-minute meals. High in protein, they can be easily served over rice, or in soups, and take just a few minutes to heat up. To keep it healthy, opt for low-sodium canned beans and drain and rinse them before use.

7.  Keep some nut butter in the fridge

Stash a jar of your preferred nut butter in the fridge for easy snacking options. Spread it on toast or apple slices, or blend it into a smoothie, for a quick and satisfying snack.

8.  Freeze your greens

Frozen fruits and vegetables are a convenient and affordable way to add nutrition to your meals. Stock up on frozen cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and edamame to make quick smoothies, soups, and stir-fries.

9.  Plan ahead with veg prep

Including more vegetables in your diet is simple when you prep them in advance. Spend some time washing and slicing your favorite produce on the weekend and store them in sealed containers. This makes it easy to add them to salads, stir-frys, or grab them as a snack.

10.  Bulk buy!

Save time and money by buying healthy foods in bulk such as grains, canned tomatoes, dried fruits, dried beans, frozen veggies, and gluten-free pasta. Store them in airtight containers to keep them fresh.

11.  Buy a blender

Similar to a slow-cooker, a blender is a convenient tool to make healthy meals easily. With a high-quality blender, you can prepare breakfast smoothies, nut butters, and even healthy desserts. Additionally, a blender can also be used to make non-dairy milks, pureed fruits and vegetables, and homemade pizza dough.

12.  Eat breakfast at dinner

Stuck on what to cook for dinner? Why not have breakfast for dinner? Aquafaba omelets are a quick and easy meal that you can stuff with vegan meat successors, veggies, and vegan cheese.

13.  Don't be scare to microwave your food

Using your microwave to heat up your meals isn't harmful and can help your food retain more nutrients. So, don't be afraid to use it when you're in a hurry, giving you more time and energy to focus on other things you enjoy. For more healthy and delicious options, Root Kitchen provides chef-prepared vegan meals delivered next day by carbon neutral courier.