Last week, I (Jen) wrote about eating at fast food restaurants. While I gave some half-hearted ideas for keeping it "healthy" - and I mean that in the nicest way possible - I wasn't able to give anything two thumbs up.

This week, I will give you some tips on how to eat on the go. For many of us, our nutrition is holding back our performance. Better nutrition will enable you to train harder and recover more quickly.

The best thing you can do is to plan ahead. If you know you have a busy day and might be tempted by the drive-thru, it is best to bring your lunch. You can usually store your lunch in the fridge at work or even in a cooler in your car. There are even coolers that plug into your A/C adapter and will keep your food extra cold.

A lot of athletes also work out on their lunch hour so they need a quick meal when they can get back to their desks. My trouble with sandwiches is that while they are very convenient, lunch meat isn't all that healthy. You can eat a sandwich made with a home-cooked chicken breast or your own homemade chicken salad or egg salad. Or try a cold burrito. You don't think twice about eating seven layer dip. You can make a burrito with similar ingredients.

If you didn't plan, you can pick up a healthy burrito, pizza or other frozen entrée from the frozen food section at the grocery store. Amy's has an entire line of frozen and canned products that are low in sodium. Also, most grocery stores have a microwave where you can heat these up. We are fortunate that in Colorado most grocery stores carry Amy's brand as well as other healthy brands.

You might also want to consider picking up a small package of hummus and some carrots and celery or other vegetable. An apple or banana and some almonds or peanut or almond butter is also a great side. Justin's Nut Butter sells single serving packs that are great for stashing in a backpack or gym bag.

Many stores also sell pre-made salads. Double check the dressing to be sure it isn't a caloric disaster. You'll want to be sure to pair a carbohydrate and some protein with your salad to keep yourself full.

It also is possible to make a quick lunch on the fly. Many grocery stores and even convenience stores sell hard-boiled eggs, string cheese as well as fresh fruit. While not perfect, some fruit and protein paired with a granola bar can be a better choice than fast food or just enough to tide you over until you can get something more filling.

Finally, you also want to be sure that you are eating enough calories at lunch to prevent the afternoon munchies. Lunch should be one of your biggest meals of the day. If you skimp on calories at this meal, you might find yourself staring at the vending machine later in the day.