How to Eat Healthy All Week at Work

The workplace can be full of temptations that throw even the healthiest eaters for a loop. Even for those of us who aren’t on a mission to lose weight, the workplace can present dietary challenges. A little advance planning and some thinking on your feet can go a long way during the week when faced by that 3 p.m. hunger pang, the congratulatory box of chocolates or the calorie-laden birthday cake.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Bring your own healthy breakfast. Steer clear of those boxes of bagels or donuts that coworkers bring in for the group on many mornings. Plan ahead to counteract such temptation by bringing a few slices of whole wheat toast, a container of yogurt or even a container of granola cereal and buy some milk from the vending machine. These will get you off to a good start, and are not time consuming in terms of advance prep.

2. Buy healthy snacks at the supermarket that can be stored at work. When you do your food shopping, think ahead. Select a few healthy snacks that can be taken to work, to help you avoid those midday snacking urges. Some good options are boxes of granola bars, packages of nuts or raisins, beef jerky, whole wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese. Another good idea is buying bags of chopped, cleaned vegetables, such as mini-carrots and broccoli, and low-fat dip; both items can be easily stored in a work refrigerator.

3. Select snacks carefully. Not all of us have time to bag food for the day on our way out the door, or to go shopping ahead of time. If you find yourself staring down that vending machine, think carefully about what you select. A granola bar or a package of peanuts is a far better choice then a bag of deep fried potato chips or sugary cookies.

4. Opt for the supermarket over the fast-food restaurant. Avoiding fast-food during the lunch hour can seem incredibly obvious, but many are left wondering what the other options are exactly. If possible, try dining at a supermarket near your office instead. Pick up an apple or orange from the produce aisle, and then head over to the deli for a sandwich made of low-fat, low-sodium meats. Many supermarkets often have salad bars now as well and freshly made soups, all of which present you with alternatives that are far healthier then a burger and fries or a slice of pizza.

5. Stock up on good old fashioned peanut-butter and jelly. Seems basic, but this can be an incredibly filling and healthy snack at any time of the day. Store a jar of jelly in office fridge, along with some peanut butter and a few slices of bread and your ready when the hunger hits.