If you think about it, we eat at least half of our daily meals and snacks during work hours. This means that what we consume in our workplace has a pretty big impact on our overall diet, and influences our productivity in and out of work.
Sitting at a desk for 9 hours a day isn’t exactly the ‘healthiest’ of lifestyles, so it’s super important that we get serious about what we’re eating during the day. We know that this is pretty difficult considering that an office is a place filled with dark temptations: the vending machine, the ‘treats table’, those colleagues who seem to have an endless supply of chocolate stashed under their desk…
We often forget the effect that what we eat has over our mood and productivity. Just by eating the right things, you can enhance your memory, concentration, and reaction time. Protein, for example, increases the brain’s production of dopamine, a natural brain chemical that helps one to feel alert. Eating too many carbohydrates, however, can result in an overproduction of serotonin, a chemical that can cause drowsiness.
So what can you do to create a healthier food environment at work? If you’re super lucky you can speak to your employer about changing up meal options, replacing the candy in the vending machines with healthy snacks and sugar-free drinks, and rethinking the food provided at meetings. Most of us don’t have that privilege, so here are some things that you can do to stay healthy at work.
1 Think before you eat
Before you grab a snack, ask yourself if you’re really hungry OR if you just need to take a break from what you are doing. Going for a short walk or getting some fresh air may be all you need.
2 Don’t skip out
No matter how busy or stressed you are, don’t miss out on your regular meals and snacks. Skipping meals and snacks will drop your blood glucose levels, resulting in an energy dip which just leads to cravings. Cravings for highly processed and sugary foods…
3 Pack a lunchbox
Lunchboxes are not just for school. Packing and preparing your own lunch will give you more control over what you eat during the day. A healthy lunchbox should include a variety and balance of foods: protein, carbs, fats and micronutrients are all a must. Choose ‘real foods’ over fatty, sugary and salty processed snacks.
4 Keep on drinking
We all need a strong cup of coffee in the morning, but other than that water should be our beverage of choice for the day. Don’t forget that a lot of drinks contain lots of energy and sugar, so be mindful of what you’re drinking.
5 Get physical
It’s not impossible to be active while at work if you make an effort. Instead of taking the lift, use the stairs. Instead of sitting at your desk at lunch, go for a 15-minute walk outside. Instead of emailing a colleague down the hall, take a walk to their desk.
Now that you know what should be eating, check out these 5 tips that will help keep you healthy in the workplace.
