Is your office making you... eat unhealthy foods?

For many of us, the office is where we spend the majority of our day. But the choices we make there, the foods that are available (or not available!) & the routines we get into at work may be detrimental to our nutritional health.

A typical day at the office may go something like this:

Coffee on arrival at the office
10.30am: coffee /eat pastries provided in meeting
1pm:  packed lunch from home/local shop, restaurant, fast food   outlet/missed lunch as in a meeting
3pm:  energy CRASH! rush to vending machine for candy!
4pm: candy wearing off - trying chips for energy now
4.55pm: clock watching - starving & can't wait to get home for dinner!

Over the next few posts we'll explore some of the healthy eating obstacles in the workplace:

Issue #1 = Routine
We often  get into a routine of having the same drinks, lunch & snacks day in and day out without really thinking about it. 

Solution
Be aware of exactly what you are eating & drinking at work, write it down or use a food tracker app or website.  Then decide what changes you'd like to make to improve your nutritional choices at work & make them happen!  If you'd like to eat healthier snacks at work, take a few minutes the night before to put fruit in your bag or take time to prepare for whatever your personal goal is.

Issue #2 = Availability
Food options & break room facilities may be limited at work and the surrounding retail food options may be limited to fast food outlets.  The vending machine may be the only food available onsite & is likely not a great source of healthy foods!

Solution
Is there a microwave you could use to heat up pasta or last night's dinner leftovers instead of going for take out?  Is there a fridge to store sandwiches & yogurt in?  If not - can you take a cool bag and ice block to keep a packed lunch cold?  Keep nuts, dried fruit or cereal bars in your desk drawer as a healthy alternative to the vending machine.

Next post: the issues of Meetings & The 3pm energy crash...

Reach Your Health Goals in 2012!

Life's getting back to normal after all the fun of the Holidays.  Which for most people means busy schedules!

Are you going to make 2012 the year you:

~ finally start planning your meals?
~ lose those 10 pounds that you've been meaning to lose?
~ keep all your doctor appointments?
~ find an exercise regime that you actually enjoy & can stick with?

Whatever your plans I wish you the best of luck!

We all need support at times and don't be afraid to ask for it.  I was at an event recently where 2 guests there didn't want to come and meet me because they knew "they were eating all wrong" and just knew I'd tell them "don't eat this don't eat that"!  So sounds like this year I'll be working to improve the image some people have of dietitians!  This is certainly not the approach I take and I look forward to the opportunity to speak with these ladies in the near future!

 New Year is like a clean slate, a new chapter in our lives and people often have high hopes for the year ahead. If you are making resolutions - make 2012 the year that you make realistic ones with an action plan of how you're going to achieve them.  "I aim to lose a pound a week by drinking less soda & walking daily" is a more realistic and therefore achievable goal than "I'm going to lose 30lbs by March!"

I hope you manage to make 2012 "The year I finally achieved  ....."!