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Work has come to dominate many of people’s waking hours. The demands of many careers and jobs continue to increase, reducing the time one take to care of other aspects of one’s lives.
Time with loved ones can suffer and time to eat properly is often sacrificed in the name of work. When one do take time to nourish the bodies, many people find it easier to eat a healthy breakfast and dinner than a healthy lunch on workdays, so it’s no surprise that your workplace nutrition habits have a major impact on your health.
But did you know that proper workplace nutrition can help you get ahead? It is more difficult to stay committed to a diet plan when you are at work, since you will be spending a lot of time at your work place, you will be tempted more frequently to eat unhealthy food.
Use the tips below to stay energized, productive, and fueled at the office.
Eat breakfast: Breakfast skipping has been linked with an increase in obesity and diabetes risks, as well as morning moodiness. Breakfast is an essential meal, and you should try your best not to skip it. It provides the energy that is required for your body to function efficiently at the start of the day, and it also makes it easier for you to control your diet. If you do not eat anything in the morning, you may have difficulty controlling your hunger, and you may end up eating unhealthy food. You can also bring your own breakfast to eat at your workplace, and some of the recommended foods include oatmeal with fruit and nuts, slices of toasted whole-wheat bread, a cup of yoghurt, granola cereal and a leftover healthy dinner from the previous night.
Drink More Water: Drinking lots of water is good for your health, and it can also help you overcome hunger. If you feel hungry while you are at work, just drink a glass of water, and your craving for food will significantly reduced. If you have a craving for soda, you can try to drink carbonated water instead.
Reduce Coffee Intake: Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the workplace, because it has an energizing effect. However, it can be detrimental to your health because it contains caffeine. It is also high in calories when it is consumed with sugar and cream. Since coffee is addictive, you may have trouble cutting it out completely. Try to drink just one small cup a day, and do not add sugar and cream if possible.
Don’t eat and work: Multitasking has been proven to be disastrous to the waistline. Instead of distractedly munching on a salad while you’re working on a proposal, set your work aside and focus completely on your meal. Better yet, take your lunch outside on a nice day and combine the benefits of fresh air with savouring your food. You’ll have a more pleasurable eating experience and return to your desk feeling refreshed.
Plan your meals. If you know you’re going to eat two or three meals and two snacks at the office, plan ahead. Coming prepared will help you avoid getting too hungry and indulging on unhealthy junk food.
Bring Healthy Snacks to Work: If you bring some healthy snacks to work, you do not have to eat fast food to suppress your hunger pangs. Some of the healthy snacks that you can bring include unsalted mixed nuts, fruits, raisins, prunes, granola bars, beef jerky, whole wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese.
Disinfect your desk: Wiping your whole desk area with disinfecting wipes once a day is enough to get it clean, paper towels don’t work. They just give the germs a free ride around the office. Be sure to get your phone, your keyboard, and your mouse as well, and avoid touching those surfaces while you’re eating otherwise, you’re just contaminating your food over and over again. And while it shouldn’t replace good old-fashioned hand-washing, it’s a good idea to keep some hand sanitizer in your desk drawer, too.
Don’t eat at your desk: The likelihood of choosing an unhealthy option increases if you remain glued to your work space. Get away from the busy work and carve out a more relaxing space to enjoy your meal. When you are focused on eating, you are more conscious of when you are getting full and less likely to overeat. You’ll also be less likely to suffer indigestion from combining the stress of work with mealtime.
