Many diets and weight loss efforts have by thwarted by meal times spent away from home. The weekday lunch hour is either seen as a break from the daily grind and a chance to socialize or it is given little thought as you stuff whatever is within arm’s reach into your mouth while not skipping a beat. Not allowing lunch to ruin your efforts requires planning and tenacity on your part. A healthy lunch doesn’t have to be a difficult challenge everyday. Just like the rest of your lifestyle, once you truly make the dedication to living healthy everyday, it becomes easier.
Check out these tips for staying on top of your healthy regimen, even through your lunch break:
1. Don’t let lunch catch you off guard. Schedule your lunch so that you aren’t famished by the time it rolls around. If you include and mid-morning snack you will be less likely to overeat at lunch time and better equipped to make healthy lunch choices.
2. Pack your lunch the night before. Plan ahead by preparing and packing your lunch before bed. This way there’s no “I didn’t have time” excuse in the morning. Have it ready to go waiting in the frig and write yourself a note if needed so that you don’t forget it in your rush out the door.
3. If in doubt, overpack. You don’t want to be hungry at work. Not only will it affect your brain power, but it will also send you running to the ever-dreaded vending machine with little thought of consequences. Pack snacks like fruits and raw veggies to snack on throughout the day.
4. If you decide to have lunch with your coworkers at a restaurant, don’t see it as an opportunity to fudge your diet. See it as an challenge to use what you have learned about proper nutrition. Servers are there to make your dining experience enjoyable and typically welcome additional requests and questions about the food.
Being healthy is an all day everyday thing.
You can’t leave your healthy lifestyle at home; you must take it with you to work as well. Informing your coworkers about your health “kick” will also help you be accountable to your fitness and health goals and may even inspire some. Post-it notes around your cubicle to remind yourself of your dedication can also help. The key is to do whatever is necessary to keep meals and snacks healthy when you are away from home. The new, healthy you needs to stay in charge no matter where you are or what time of day it is.
