Who and What's stopping that You can – and should – eat healthy food at the office

Who and What's stopping that You can – and should – eat healthy food at the office

Hey, I like this!

July 1 to 5 is Corporate Wellness Week in South Africa and the spotlight is on our habits and well being in the workplace.

FOR the majority of us, working life involves sitting at a desk for at least eight hours and eating nearly half of our daily meals and snacks during work hours. This means that the food choices we make on the job could have a significant impact on our overall health and, in turn, our productivity.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Exercises you can do at your desk in the office

Making healthy food choices at work is often very difficult. The simplest step to help you and your colleagues  make healthy food choices at work is simply to make healthy choices available. Urge your employers to stock healthier alternatives in vending machines, kiosks and the canteen. Make healthy snacks available.

Packing a lunch box is not just for school kids, in fact it’s an incredibly valuable habit to take into adulthood.

Preparing your own lunch gives you full control over what you eat during the day and it will also help you to curb the urge to visit the nearest vending machine or shop to buy unhealthy meals and snacks.




This is especially necessary if your healthy food choices are limited in your office. A healthy, balanced lunch box includes a variety of food groups including high fibre carbohydrates, lean proteins, healthy fats, veggies, fruit and dairy, while avoiding highly processed, sugary and fatty foods.

When packing your lunch box or plating your meal at the staff canteen, make sure to keep an eye on your portion sizes. You should plate enough that you feel full afterwards, which keeps you from snacking too much in the afternoon, yet not so much that you are overeating or wasting food. Make sure to also balance your portions of different food groups.

Stay hydrated throughout the day, which will not only allow you to feel more alert, but will also ensure that you don’t misinterpret thirst as hunger.

Water with a few cups of unsweetened coffee or tea should ideally be your beverages of choice throughout the day. Bring water or homemade iced herbal tea infused with berries, citrus, ginger or mint to work.

Be mindful of what you are sipping during work hours because sugary drinks are loaded with kilojoules which quickly add up and contribute to weight gain.

Take some time out of your day to get a bit active because it will help to refresh your mind, allowing you to be more productive, creative and less stressed.

Take a short walk outside, walk to a colleague’s desk instead of phoning, enjoy your lunch or a cup of tea away from your desk and use the stairs instead of the lift.

Incorporating some exercise throughout your day adds up and will assist with weight management.