Wake up.

Eat some breakfast.

Hit the gym.

Run home and get the kids on the bus.

Go to work for 8 hours.

Get the kids from school.

Make Dinner.

Have some family time.

Go to sleep.

…and Repeat.

Sound familiar?

Backyard BBQ’s, summer baseball games, and weekends at the lake are quickly coming to a close. The kids are going back to school and life is slowly getting back into a steady routine.

Making healthy choices during a busy schedule can be tough. The best part is we are creatures of routine. Here are 7 tips that will get you going in the right direction towards your nutrition goals while still living your busy life.

#1 Eat Lean Protein at Each Meal
Protein is needed for almost every metabolic process in your body. Making sure you are eating enough protein will help preserve lean muscle mass and also help you stay fuller, longer.

#2 Eat At Least Five Servings of Colorful Fruits and Vegetables A Day
Eating more colorful fruits and vegetables will not only improve your nutritional quality but also provide you with more variety. Fruits and vegetables provide us with the majority of our micronutrients.

#3 Make Smart Carb Choices
Smart carbs are slower-digesting, higher-fiber, and nutrient-rich. These include foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits and starchy vegetables.

#4 Eat Healthy Fats
Fats aid in many functions throughout the body. They help with hormone synthesis, recovery, and many other metabolic functions in the body. Not only do they make your food taste really good, they help regulate your appetite and satiety.

#5 Eat Slowly
You will have more control over your choices and will be able to recognize hunger before overeating. This allows you to become more mindful of your choices.

#6 Stop Eating at “80% Full”
80% is a specific number but who can eat to that? Think of 80% as a feeling. You should eat until you are just satisfied or no longer hungry but not completely full or stuffed. This will aid in your ability to understand appetite control and control your hunger and fullness levels.

#7 Drink Only Calorie-Free Beverages
Most beverages do not add value to our bodies. They definitely do not offer many nutrients. Drinking calorie-free beverages such as water, flavored sparkling water, or coffee will help reduce daily caloric intake and help keep us in a deficit.

Being mindful of those 7 tips will keep you on track to achieving your nutrition and fitness goals while keeping up with the craze of everyday life!