Are you in the 60% of US consumers that order takeout once a week? Have the number of times you order per week gone up during the current COVID-19 pandemic? Are you worried about quarantine weight gain, or the ‘quarantine fifteen’? We have some healthy takeout meal tips and advice on why it might be better to consider healthy home delivered meals while you’re staying safe at home.
Think Beyond A Single Meal
It’s easy to order up something on the spur of the moment that’s delivered before you’ve had time to consider the overall nutritional value of the meal, and how it fits into your daily caloric targets, but that’s where you can easily get in trouble. Consider your daily caloric intake , and what that spontaneity might cost, beyond the amount you’ll pay in dollars and cents. The overall calorie, fat, carbohydrate and protein of each meal matters.
Consider Portion Sizes
While a larger container of any given item may be less a better value, it’s important to consider what the right portion size is for you when you ‘dish up’ for dinner! Leaving some leftovers for the next day is a great way to avoid the dreaded quarantine weight gain. If your delivery doesn’t contain a recommendation for portioning that is appropriate for your individual body and lifestyle (you’re remaining active while staying safer-at-home, right?), finding out the correct portion size can help turn a regular delivery dinner into a more healthy takeout meal!
What To Do With Leftovers
Not one for repeating the same meal? Think about buying up some freezer bags and putting some of that delivery away for a couple of weeks. Most cooked food can be successfully frozen if properly packaged for the freezer (ie. ziplock-style bags that allow you to see what’s inside) for up to 3 months.
COVID-19 – How to handle containers that you might bring in from outside
Do you have confidence in the safety of the food that is being delivered to your door? If you are receiving meals from a source (like NutriFit) that wipes the containers and bags before sending them out, you can rest more easily. However, it’s a good idea to wipe off any boxes that you receive from others with a bleach towel, then throw out the wipes or put the towel back into a bucket of diluted bleach solution and sanitize the surface that you worked on.Wear gloves while you’re doing this, then dispose of the gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water.
Everyone has their favorite guilty pleasure takeout – at NutriFit, we offer healthy, tasty versions many of your favorite Chinese, Mexican, Italian (and more) dishes. Our A La Carte menu features over 100 items including vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, gluten free options – all of which come labeled with full nutritional information.