We all think we know the difference between what food is good for us and what is bad for us. It usually revolves around:
junk food = bad | salad = good
and that’s where it ends. But who wants to eat salad at work? Has anyone ever said the words, ohh I could murder a nice iceburg lettuce salad, nom nom.
There has to be a better way, there has to be more to staying healthy than Iceburg lettuce or the occasional splash out to the more exotic Romaine variety on a Friday to mix things up a bit, but what is the answer?
Unfortunately, we are not about to bust a ton of myths here and tell you that a Big Mac, Fries and strawberry milkshake combo is the new superfood, but there are a couple of tips and tricks to bring a some of healthier habits into your working day.
Germs
Let’s get the gross bit out of the way first. The average a work station, whether it is a desk, a production line or a packing station is 400 times dirtier than your toilet, yuck. So, sneaking a quick snack while you are on the job is not best advised. Wait for your breaks when you can wash your hands and get away from the gross working environment.
Sugar
Let’s face it, sugar is everywhere. It is in most things that we consume, even those that we think are good for us, so cutting it out of your diet is just not going to be possible, but you can keep it under control by knowing how much sugar is in your everyday snacks and drinks. If you have a soft drink, a can of soup and a chocolate bar for lunch you will have consumed an astonishing 26 teaspoons of sugar! This is without any sugar that may be added to your hot drinks like tea and coffee throughout the day.
The recommended daily limit for sugar is 6 teaspoons (25 grams) so try to spend your allowance wisely. Soft drinks and chocolate bars are obvious things to avoid but when it comes to the soup, well that’s just sneaky. Try to take home made foods to work so you know exactly what is in them. Also, opting for protein rich foods like nuts and seeds will help you to keep the sugar cravings at bay and your energy levels up.
Water
Humans are made up of 70% water so keeping our liquid levels topped up is super important.
On a day where you do nothing but lounge on the sofa and watch Netflix you need around two litres of water, so in a working day where you are hiking around a warehouse and running about picking and packing items you need to ramp up that intake by quite a bit.
If you are not used to drinking water regularly then try to make a habit of combining your usual drinks with a glass of water. Every time you have a coffee or a soft drink, drink a pint of water alongside it. This will help you to remember.
Staying healthy at work goes beyond what we eat, so be sure to take a look at some of our other advice articles including, surviving shift work and our 3 Steps to combating tiredness, stress and negativity
