Do You Eat As Well As A Dairy Cow?

Recently I was delighted to spend 2 days with Dairy Consultants and a Women’s Retreat in Wisconsin.

Did you know dairy cows get regular visits from a nutritionist who specially formulates their feed to meet their current needs?

Really!

That’s right, in order to support the cow’s health, a nutritionist determines the specific needs of the cow (pregnancy, milking, etc) and puts together a diet (cow people call it a ration) to keep her healthy and happy. The cow’s diet is adjusted as her needs change so that she can always be in the best health possible.

Think about it.

Do you adjust your diet to support your health when your needs change?  Most women pay close attention to what they eat when they are pregnant or breast feeding, and athletes certainly need to eat to fuel their bodies.  However, when we are stressed at work or at home, we often turn to what is most convenient rather than what is the most healthy.

Sure, you want to eat quickly and get back to work, but is that really supporting your health?

In short, do you eat as well as a dairy cow?

Here are some tips to eating healthier when time is short and stress is high:

Grab and Go: Bring healthy food with you. For example:

• Bag of mini carrots, tub of hummus
• Whole grain rice cakes or crackers with low fat cheese, turkey, chicken, beef or cottage cheese
• Nuts and dried or fresh fruit.
• Tuna packed in a pouch with pita bread or crackers

Make One Meal Count: Sit down for at least one meal per day.  Disengage from the computer, TV, phone, etc. and enjoy something delicious and nutritious.  Get some face-time with someone you care about and feed your spirit as well as your body.

Smoothie It Out: A smoothie is a great way to start the day and get the fuel you need to get through the morning.  Find video recipe here.

Think Quick, Not Fast: When you need to grab lunch, skip the fast food and find something quick.  Choose a stir-fry, soup or salad to get a nice combination of protein, veggies and grains.

Get Your Own Consultant: If you are confused about how to eat right, get some help! The American Dietetic Association has some great resources and a link to find a registered dietitian in your area.

When you are stressed (and even when you aren’t), make sure you eat well enough to support your good health now and into the future!

Eliz Greene works with organizations who need to equip their people to weather the storm of today’s high stakes environment so they can work well, feel better, and stress less.

She is a heart attack survivor and the author of the Busy Woman’s Guide to a Healthy Heart and 3 other books on wellness.  She writes one of the top 50 health and wellness blogs and is a sought-after wellness & stress management speaker.

If you are planning a women’s wellness program, workplace wellness program or programs for healthcare professionals check out EmbraceYourHeart.com to see if Eliz would be a good fit with your organization.