Trying to eat healthy while working remotely is a task! The pandemic forced many of us to change our eating habits; and for some, (me included) not for the better. There’s something about being at work in an office that forces you to have self-control when it comes to what you eat. It’s either your health conscience co-workers judging your food choices or the inability to eat due to facility restrictions. Either way, it was much easier to control what and when you eat.
There are essentially 3 types of remote workers in my opinion. There’s the work from home professional who can do their job 100% from their home. Then you have the traveling professional who has to go to different cities and states to fulfill their job duties. Lastly, there’s the hybrid professional who is basically a combination of the first two.
The tricky part about traveling professionals is that it’s super easy to either forget to eat, or to frequently eat fast food because they’re on the go. The bad thing about forgetting to eat (this doesn’t apply to someone fasting) is that by the time they do remember to eat, they’re basically hangry and will likely eat whatever is in sight.
For the professional working completely from home, whew… I know – staying away from the refrigerator can be challenging. I mean – you’re home, the fridge and the snack pantry are right in the next room. So why not go look and see what’s there right? Every five-minute break turns into you grabbing another bag of chips or cookies, just because it’s there.
I understand the challenge and want to help. Here are my top 3 tips for eating healthy while working remotely.
Prepare healthier snacks
I made this number 1 because it’s the most important. Working remotely is a sure fire excuse to snack all day long. Instead of illuminating the need for a snack, just make a healthier choice.
A go-to snack for me is a parfait. At the beginning of the week, I make sure I have enough berries, yogurt and granola for this sweet midday treat. It’s healthier than downing a pack of oreos in the middle of the day but still satisfies the craving.
If you don’t really care for sweets, opt for nuts. I love grabbing a handful of almonds or peanuts and munching while sending emails. Nuts are a great source of protein and are easy to snack on at your desk without making a mess.
Fruits are also a great option. Cuties, halos, apples, grapes and bananas are a few of my favorites. The key to healthy snacking is to be prepared!! You already know the cravings are coming before your work week so prep accordingly.
Drink Coffee or Tea First thing in the Morning With or Without Breakfast
Coffee is a game changer. A cup of coffee, a bowl of oatmeal and two slices of bacon is my go-to breakfast. Most days I’m happy with just a cup of coffee. I pair it with my favorite sugar free pumpkin spice creamer, and it keeps me satisfied for a big portion of the day. Coffee is known to reduce your desire to eat and keeps you energized.
A cup of coffee in the morning is definitely a great option for the traveling professional in need of a boost to get the day started. Ginger and lemon tea is also a favorite of mine. I mince fresh ginger and squeeze the juice from half a lemon into hot water. Sometimes I add honey. Not only does it taste amazing, but I’m less likely to snack throughout the day.
Meal Prep
Bottom line, eating healthier starts with planning. Plan your breakfast, lunch and snack for your workday. It’s more likely you’ll choose healthier options when you plan ahead. Especially for work from home professionals, when you know what you’re eating ahead of time you won’t feel the need to make 100 trips to the refrigerator throughout the workday.
You may want to grill chicken the night before to have a nice chicken salad for lunch the next day. Or, make enough dinner the night before and save a serving for lunch the next day. Planning ahead also helps you focus more on your work than what your next meal is.
Thank you for these tips! I’m a stay at home mom and I think this will help me.