Office Nutrition: How to Avoid the Vending Machine
Unless you plan accordingly, you could be the victim of what is known as HANGER. You know, the mix of hunger and anger because you’re starving? The vending machine at work is one of your biggest nutritional traps during your 9-5 unless you properly plan out your own personal office nutrition. What do you do?
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. It is recommended that you speak with your doctor before starting any exercise program, changing your daily nutrition, or adding any supplements to your regimen.
The Temptation of a Fully Stocked Vending Machine
For most, the office vending machine turns into their best hope for settling down their growling stomach in terms of office nutrition. Enter your money and out comes a bag of chips, a candy bar, some pretzels, cookies, or whatever else you’re in the mood for. Notice how I said, “in the mood for” and not “what you need nutritionally?”
Where we all become vulnerable is when we are limited by office nutrition options. We are hungry, we know the office nutrition options in the vending machine aren’t the best, BUT, it’s all we have to choose from because we’re stuck. The majority of everything in the vending machine is high in carbs, fats, sugars, or a combination of all of those. Very rarely do you see options that are high in protein or even fiber to help you feel satiated so you can go back to work and be productive.
When it comes to those sugary choices, you may be able to squeeze out some extra energy from the item but give it some time and you’ll feel your energy levels drop as if someone pulled the rug out from under you and you’re lying there on the floor wondering what the heck happened. You end up spending the rest of your day in a mental fog, with no energy, and your productivity resembles a jammed copy machine – as in not working at all.
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If you sat down and planned out how to minimize these events from taking place and avoiding the vending machine, you could not only save yourself money but also your waistline and overall health.
Plan for Success to Skip the Vending Machine
In order to stay on your health and fitness journey without getting derailed, it’s going to take some planning and self-control – especially when it comes to your office nutrition and the urge to hit the vending machine.
As mentioned above, you are truly limited to what is in your office building or surrounding area if you are in a pinch and need food (especially if you forget your lunch at home). Generally, the places that are around your building will be fast food and quick grab-and-go options that allow you to get back to work before your lunch break is over.
However, there’s an easier way that can prevent future headaches from not having a healthy food option easily accessible. It’s called PLANNING.
Utilize Your Work Space
Now, not everyone will have the same setup that I’m about to mention but it should be pretty close. If you work in an office, you are probably sitting or standing at a desk all day. That desk has space on top as well as the drawers – yes? Perfect. Then you truly have no excuse to ever walk over to that vending machine ever again.
What I want you to do is to go buy items or bring them from home that you can store on or in your desk rather than going to the vending machine. These could be items such as nuts, granola bars, fruit (like bananas), natural peanut butter with whole grain crackers, nutrition bars like the Pure Protein bars, trail mix, or something like beef jerky. If you want to step it up a notch and have the room, you could easily store a tub of protein on your desk or underneath (assuming you don’t have clients walking in your office often to keep it looking professional and without clutter).
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