It's easier to control portions, and the food can be easily stored and brought out as the ready-to-eat components are wanted.Ĭombination meals like stir-fry are nice options to consider as well, as they generally have a balance of protein, vegetables and starches. A bowl of oatmeal with nuts and fruit is another healthy option for breakfast.įor other meals, Lalevich recommends batch cooking, which means preparing larger portions of different foods at the same time that can be later mixed and matched to create versatile meals. Complement the meal with carbohydrates like fruits and whole grains with peanut or almond butter. Protein options like eggs, yogurt and nuts are all good components to have in the first meal of the day. Maybe you are one of those people who would normally rush out the door, skipping breakfast, but now you have time to eat. One thing to keep in mind: A good source of protein should be a key component for every meal. It's hard enough figuring out what to eat on a normal day. If a customer does not want to go inside the store to shop, most grocery stores are offering no-contact pickup and delivery options. Other healthy options with a longer shelf life include eggs, beans, grains and canned fish. "Whether in a pandemic or just in everyday life, it's good to have some of those pantry staples on hand." "Frozen fruits and vegetables maintain all the flavor and nutrients," Lalevich said. Frozen produce, on the other hand, is harvested at peak ripeness and frozen immediately. "Frozen, canned or dried options are going to be just as nutritious and offer that shelf stability."Īlso, depending on the store, what is sold in the produce section is sometimes picked before it's fully ripe because it has to survive around a month to get to the store. "Fresh fruits, vegetables and meat go bad fairly quickly," he said. Lalevich recommends purchasing frozen produce and meat over fresh options.
"Instead of having to commute home, maybe that time at the end of the workday is designated to do an exercise or take a walk," Lalevich said.
With the only commute now being from the bed to the at-home desk, there's an opportunity to develop a new routine and more time to schedule physical activity. "There are obviously negative aspects to what's going on, but there's an opportunity to build new habits and find a new way of doing things," he said.īefore this new normal, most people had a set schedule and routine where they had to be at this place, at this time, and do this thing. While recognizing the seriousness of the pandemic, Lalevich encourages people to look for the positives in the situation. This is an amenity for full-time IU employees and spouses who are on an IU medical plan. Lalevich is also scheduling free, personalized nutritional counseling sessions for faculty and staff through Zoom conferencing.