How do I find time to eat well at work?

Is your working week becoming a race to see how much you can achieve each day?

Do you sandwich meetings into lunch breaks?

Are you ruled by deadlines  that give you little time to  breathe,   never mind eat?

Are you a commuter?

A working mother?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions it may be that you are sacrificing the healthy eating habits you have at home for  different ones while at work.
While we are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about what we eat, the questions of ‘when‘ and ‘how’ we eat during the working day have become less important. We have more choice in what we consume than ever before

(‘Chicken guacemole wrap, anyone?’),

but is the digital age deleting the simple rituals of life? Like lunch.  Are you, in short, a meal-skipper from Monday to Friday?

Research by Mintel shows that: 75% of employees stay at work during the lunch period.  50% eat at their desks. 3.3 lunch breaks of an average 29 minutes are taken each week.

Mintel then goes on to report that the most common solution is a packed lunch, followed by food bought at supermarkets, then sandwich shops. On leaving the office, commuters particularly, will rush into a convenience store to snap up something packaged, processed and invariably costly because they are now….starving.

One can only assume that the figures for those self emplyed would be similar. Despite being near the family fridge few people have the inclination to prepare a healthy lunch that will be eaten at the dining room table. Most of us eat briefly with our laptops, if we eat atall.

Stress creeps in through not making the time to eat. You are not refreshed,  so both your work and sense of well being suffer.

What can you do?

Even if you work at home, welcome yourself to a meal . Have a beginning and an end. If possible turn off your phone for thirty minutes. ( This will work best for you and your clients if you do this at a regular  time. )  Celebrate a good morning’s work. The afternoon will only get better.

If you work away from home take ten minutes each morning, (yes you can!)  to prepare something fresh for the day ahead. Nuts,fruit (dried or fresh), organic cheese slabs, salad / raw vegatables and juice give energy.
Make exciting new sandwich fillings from last night’s leftovers. Try baked salmon with a bit of broccoli, lemon and cucumber, or tuna mixed with tahini and fresh . The point is to form a habit of preparing the very best of what you have for yourself.
If you know you will be eating real fresh food, as opposed to processed you are more likely to give yourself the legitimate lunch break you deserve.

The shared table

Resolve to eat at least twice a week with a friend or colleague if you do not already meet  for working or business lunches. This may mean either agreeing to meet up with your food in the canteen or walking to a park, nearby cafe or neighbour’s house.  (Remember that exercise is great for boosting  brain power and fresh inspiration. I sometimes get some of my best ideas when walking.)

A shared table is good for a healthy appetite. You do not really want to get together just to grab a packet of crisps and a coke, do you? And good conversation will inspire your afternoon’s work.

If you order from a local catering company make sure you get locally sourced, freshly prepared food.

Healthy food really does help you to think more clearly.

If you live in Hertfordshire, MoreSouth organic, mediterranean catering   will deliver fresh breakfasts and lunches to your office from it’s  bakery.
Our Breakfast Platter includes organic bagels, and yoghurt with granola (made from oats, dried figs, almonds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, roasted on site.) Lunch includes gourmet salads, fruit platters, and organic ciabattas, rolls and baguettes with a choice of mediterranean inspired fillings.
Oh, and coming in May are the organic cupcakes! We didn’t get on to afternoon tea at the office did we?

What ways do you find to eat healthily at work?