3 Reasons How the Workplace Complicates Our Relationship with Food - And How to Fix It
Whether we’re rushing to get a project done or didn’t have time to pack a healthy lunch, the workplace can really complicate our relationship with food.
We’re sharing why and how to fix it.
Skipping lunch.
Whether you forgot to pack your lunch or didn’t have time to eat, working through and skipping lunch may seem like a productive option, but it’s actually quite the opposite.
When we skip a meal, we rob our bodies of the nutrients it needs to carry us through the afternoon. Without these nutrients we end up sluggish, foggy, and way less productive.
The fix: To make it easier to eat your lunch, meal plan and pack lunches ahead of time that you’ll look forward to eating. For days when you know you’ll be super busy, schedule corporate lunch catering from a healthy provider.
Eating quickly.
Even if you do manage to eat your lunch, scarfing it down leads to problems. In fact, speed eaters are likely to develop metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and even cardiovascular problems.
The fix: When you’re feeling pressured to get back to work, try taking your lunch break outside of the office. You won’t be distracted by phones going off and emails popping up, and you won’t feel like you’re being watched by your boss.
Grazing.
If you’re office is like the majority, it likely has a food altar. This is where co-workers, who mean well, pile hyperpalatable foods such as baked goods, chips, and other unhealthy snacks. Your employer may contribute to the altar as well with pizza parties and birthday cake.
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly a quarter of employed U.S. adults obtain food or beverages at work at least once a week.
The fix: If you have control over the food altar, create a set of guidelines that describes what is allowed to be brought in. Even healthier versions of common offenders will make a difference. If you don’t have control over the food altar, stock your own in a drawer with healthy snacks and tea that will encourage you to skip over the unhealthy options. And always be sure to eat nutrient-dense meals so you won’t feel the need to graze in the first place.
The workplace is a common offender to our complicated relationship with food, but with a little planning, it doesn’t have to be.
Meet Rootasters:
Meg is a dreamer, entrepreneur, and homesteader based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She loves her cats, feasting, and road trips in her green VW Bug.