Bana Salameh is a registered dietitian based in Montreal, Canada following clients and patients in several countries around the world. In this blog - a first in a series of four blogs dedicated to health and wellness - Bana translates the latest health and nutrition information into easy-to-follow tips that can help you adopt a healthy lifestyle. On average, we spend about 50% of our waking hours at work, if not more! Eating healthy might be easier said than done because of several challenges like eating at the desk while working, no access to healthy foods, eating out of boredom, or not drinking enough water.
Bring your own lunch! It’s very important not to skip meals at work not only because it enhances your performance, but also because it will help you avoid overeating later at night. Yes, most of us are guilty of that! Bringing your own lunch from home would not only save you money, but will also more likely be lower in fat, sugar and calories.
- Aim for having your lunch ½ vegetables, ¼ carbohydrates and ¼ lean protein – don’t skip any of these food groups! - Vary your choices to keep it exciting. Ideas include sandwiches, soups, stews, etc.
Bringing a healthy lunch can be very simple. You could pack some leftovers from your main meal for the next day’s lunch, or you could make a meal out of ready ingredients – doesn’t necessarily have to be a hot meal in a plate!
- Whole-wheat bread with hummus and some raw vegetables. - Salad with turkey slices/beans/cheese/nuts with whole-wheat crackers. - Sandwich: cheese, tomatoes and lettuce.
