When you spend eight hours, five days a week at the office, living your best and healthiest life is not possible without learning how to eat healthy at work. It can seem daunting to think about how to stick to a healthy diet when you are not in the comforts of your own home, with your own healthy food options and away from temptation, which is why we have broken it down and come up with 6 tips to help you eat healthy at work. Let’s get started.
- Eat Breakfast
Its important to set yourself up for success before the work day even starts. Begin your day with a well-balanced, nutritious breakfast, such as a smoothie or protein oats. Eating breakfast will ensure that you aren’t hungry when you show up for work, which can help you to tame those workday temptations.
- Meal Prep
A little bit of preparation can go a long way when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. Prepare a few meals in advance of the work week so that you have a number of healthy lunch options to bring with you. Not only can you prepare your lunch in advance, you can also prep healthy snacks, such as energy bites or protein muffins. Bring these snacks to work with you and enjoy them throughout the day, instead of hitting up a vending machine when those afternoon cravings come.
- Avoid Mindless Eating
It is easy to get carried away with your work and mindlessly eat at your desk. Try to avoid distracted desk dining and instead take the necessary time away from your computer to focus on the food that you are eating. This can help you to avoid overeating and can give you a much-needed workday break. On the flip side, if you’re in a lull at work and have some down time, try to avoid eating just because you are bored. Before reaching for additional snacks, ask yourself if you are actually hungry or if you are eating out of boredom.
- Find Healthy Alternatives
As great as it would be if we could always be 100% prepared, life happens, things get in the way, and sometimes you won’t have lunch ready to bring to work with you. When this happens, its ideal to have a healthy back up, rather than running to a drive through. Try instead the Kaizen Naturals® All-in-One Complete Meal. With 25 g of protein, 17 whole foods, and 21 essential vitamins and minerals, its everything you need in one cup! Keep this in your desk at work for the days when bringing lunch with you just isn’t feasible.
- Stay Hydrated
Ensure you are drinking plenty of water in between meals and snacks while at work. Not only will the water fill up your stomach and help to keep you feeling full for longer but staying hydrated also has numerous benefits for your health and well-being, including improving energy levels and clearing toxins.
- Practice Balance
Keep your goals in mind and learn to say no to treats and temptations that don’t follow your healthy living lifestyle. However, we encourage you to practice balance. Don’t miss out on opportunities to bond with your co-workers because you are worried about sticking to your diet. Prepare meal options that you can bring with you, make healthy choices when out at restaurants, or treat yourself every once in a while. They key to long-term success is finding a balance between eating micronutrient-dense meals and enjoying the life you live, which for many of us means indulging on treats occasionally.
If you are in need of some healthy recipe inspiration for breakfast, snacks, or lunch, check out our recipe page here.