When you’re working on getting accredited, balancing life can be tricky. You may have work, school, bills to pay, and people to care for, so creating a healthy eating plan may seem challenging. However, it could be easier than you think. Numerous recipes incorporate nutritious foods that taste delicious and are good for you. Try out these six healthy food choices for pharmacists who want to stay fit.
1. Hummus and Veggie Wraps
Hummus is a favorite among vegetarians and people who like dips. The star of this Middle Eastern dish is chickpeas. These legumes are high in protein and fiber and taste great when roasted. Other ingredients in hummus include garlic, olive oil, tahini, and lemon juice.
Hummus and veggie wraps are an excellent way to get a balanced meal you can assemble quickly. All you need is a tortilla, a couple of tablespoons of hummus, and your favorite vegetables. You can add mixed greens, carrots, onions, and cucumbers. Avocado would add a nice, creamy texture to it. Wait until you’re ready to eat to apply the hummus, because it can make the tortilla soggy if it sits there for hours in a container.
2. Roasted Edamame
Edamame is another name for immature soybeans, and they’re a nutritious food you can transform in many ways. These soybeans are a terrific source of protein for vegetarians and their high fiber content will keep you satiated until your next meal.
Edamame tastes delicious when roasted and you can make a healthy and filling snack out of these soybeans. Take your edamame beans and coat them with olive oil, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Bake them at 400°F for about 15 minutes to produce a snack that fits into a healthy eating plan.
3. Homemade Trail Mix
The path can be challenging when you’re trying to get pharmacy accreditation. The accreditation facilitators require pharmacies to deliver high-value clinical services. To keep up with the requirements, you need brain-boosting food. One way you can get that is with homemade trail mix.
The trail mix you buy at the store can have too much salt and sugar for your liking. Assembling it at home will give you more nutritional value and customization for what you enjoy. You can add healthy and delicious ingredients like cashews, almonds, peanuts, pecans, dark chocolate chips, and dried and unsweetened fruit.
4. Dark Chocolate Bark
The dark chocolate in the trail mix was not a typo. This snack is great for those with a sweet tooth wanting a healthy snack. Dark chocolate has antioxidants and improves your body’s ability to flow blood to your brain. This sweet snack can help your body produce endorphins, making you feel happier and focus better on the tasks at hand.
Dark chocolate has numerous uses. You can eat dark chocolate chips by themselves or use them to make baked goods or other snacks. This dark chocolate bark has chia seeds, dried fruit, almonds, and stevia. It’s vegan, tastes delicious, and supports healthy food choices for pharmacists who want a tasty snack during the day.
5. Fruit and Greek Yogurt
Another way to incorporate healthy and brain-boosting food during the day is with Greek yogurt. It has more protein than regular yogurt – about 20 grams per 7 ounces – and supports gut health with probiotics. Greek yogurt is an excellent part of a healthy eating plan for those who want more protein but want to explore options besides meat.
You can find flavored Greek yogurt and eat it by itself, but watch for the added sugar content in these products. You may want to find a non-fat version with no added sugar and add sweeteners yourself. Fruit is a terrific way to add sweetness and fiber and create a delicious snack. Mixed berries, bananas, and apples are a few fruits that taste amazing with Greek yogurt. Add stevia for a zero-calorie sweetener to keep the calorie count low.
6. Overnight Oats
Pharmacists and others in the medical field often work long hours, requiring them to wake up earlier than they wish. You may have limited time to get ready in the morning, so overnight oats are a practical option for those who want to grab breakfast and go. You do the prep work the night before so your meal is ready to go as soon as you wake up.
People who make overnight oats often make them in a mason jar. As a base, start with oats – whether rolled, quick-cooking, or steel-cut. From here, the recipe is highly customizable. You can add milk (dairy or plant-based), chia seeds, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, fruit, honey, and more. Try to make your jar balanced with protein and fiber. These overnight oats are excellent healthy food choices for pharmacists and anyone who needs a pick-me-up in the morning.
Crafting a Healthy Eating Plan
Eating healthy foods can seem challenging, but it’s easier than you may think. There is no set plan for everyone to follow. The best meals and snacks are the ones that have nutritional value and that you enjoy eating. These six healthy food choices for pharmacists are excellent ways for you to incorporate protein, fiber, and healthy fats while you’re working hard toward accreditation.