“Time to Stop Workplace Snacking”
4 Tips to Resist Unhealthy Snacks in the Workplace
Is your office the kind that celebrates everyone’s birthday with catered cupcakes? Is there an employee who insists on bringing in her “delicious” home-baked goods?
When it comes to snacks, they can make or break your diet!
According to a study from Mintel, 94 percent of Americans snack at least once daily – with 50 percent admitting to snacking several times daily.
Mindless eating is common, especially in the workplace. Here are five tips to share with employees who feel the pressure to grab those unhealthy snacks:
1. Find Healthy Substitutions to Satisfy the cravings
Craving something salty, but trying to stay away from those potato chips your co-worker brought to the 12 o’clock meeting? Well, you still have options. Consider substituting something that still has a good, salty taste, but less fat.
Here is a Buzzfeed article that lists potato chips alternatives that are easy to prepare and bring into work to share with your co-workers that also might be craving something crunchy.
2. Control Your Environment
Snacking (and eating in general) is usually considered a social exercise, and we all know this is true! When trying to eat healthy, it is always good to have some extra support, and what better way to accomplish this than by hanging with a like-minded crowd in the workplace. Here’s a good idea for you! Try swapping days (or weeks) bringing in healthy snacks for one another, or maybe organize monthly healthy potlucks as a fun lunch activity to keep your employees motivated.
In addition to having a positive effect on the body, mind and soul, these simple acts could also add to your companies overall daily vibes.
3. Water, Water, Water!
This is an easy one to figure out. Drink more water! Did you know that when we think we’re hungry, we’re usually just dehydrated? We all know that drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day is healthy, but it can also tame your snack cravings. If you get sick of drinking water throughout the day, try an alternative like flavored seltzer water. A few of our favorite substitutes for water include, LaCroix and bubbly.
4. Listen to Your Body
Now, this isn’t a tip that everyone will follow, and that’s okay! Generally, if we are not following a certain diet, we won’t necessarily watch what we eat. However, when it comes to snacking it is important to at least mentally track what you are putting in your body, especially in the workplace. In high stress and fast pace environments we tend to overeat. This is a natural habit that most of us are guilty of, but it is also something we can fix! A good tip for defeating this habit in the workplace is to plan out your meals, and yes, snacks are meals! Physically writing down the times that you will eat will train your body to only eat at the specific times your are allotting for each meal.
References:
1. https://www.jillianmichaels.com/blog/food-and-nutrition/6-tips-help-you-curb-snacking
2. https://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/chips-without-potatoes
3. http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/food-and-drink/a-snacking-nation-94-of-americans-snack-daily
