Healthy Office Eating Made Easy

Community Manager — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:47:00 GMT

Offices are a snacking minefield-pastries at breakfast meetings, baked goods in the break room, candies at reception-if you don't watch your step, you'll watch your waistline blow up.

Back Away from the Pastry

Can't seem to make it through the day without popping an office pastry in your mouth? Time for some tips to keep a healthy diet on track.

Reality television personality and New York Times bestselling author of Naturally Thin and The Skinnygirl Dish, Bethenny Frankel, dishes up advice for combating the office snack trap in 5 Tips to Keep Office Snacking From Derailing Your Diet. Tips include filling up with warm drinks: delicious teas or diet coffee drinks score high on taste but low on calories. Or pack your own healthy snacks such as nuts or fruit to stave off the midday slump that too often leads to vending machines full of junk.

Refueling with small, healthy snacks throughout the day keeps the body humming and prevents fatigue. So stock up on healthy, portable snacks for office munching: hummus and mini pitas, whole-wheat crackers and nut butters or yogurt topped with granola or fresh berries are all smart choices. Read 8 Healthy Office Snacks from CookingLight.com for other ideas. And 11 Energy-Boosting Snacks suggests thinking outside the snack-box for quick energy hits: high-fiber cereals and half a turkey sandwich make terrific snacks at any time of the day.

Lunch Munch

Make time in your schedule for healthy eating habits. Try not to wolf down lunch on the run; harried schedules often result in poor food choices. Make time for healthy lunches such as salads, red pepper slices and hummus or sandwiches stuffed with veggies rather than fatty, high-sodium meats. Need inspiration? The New York Times has a wonderful blog of sandwiches ideas as well as packing tips to ensure maximum freshness at your desk.

How do you combat the office snack-trap? Do you have healthy office lunch ideas to share? Post them here or on our Facebook page!

by Candie Harris

Beyond Folders : diets, women's health

Healthy Office Eating Made Easy