Find that your desk doubles as a kitchen table? You are not alone. According to the 2011 Desktop Dining Survey by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods’ Home Food Safety program, 83% of employees are grubbing at their desk for meals and snacks. Over the next few days you can read tips to becoming a desk dining pro. For the overworked or the work multi-tasker use these tips to safe, healthy desk bound dining.
Tip #1: Sanitation Station
Between coffee spills, leftover crumbs and finger-licking to keyboard transfer, your desk is surely a home to germs. Give your “table” a much needed, thorough wipe down. Despite daily interaction with your desktop it is often skipped when it comes to cleaning. It wasn’t long ago that the “germ guru” Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona revealed that the average office desktop has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, but still our lunches land in front of our keyboards almost every day. Make sure to keep your desk dining sanitary and beat the bacteria buffet.
- Disinfect your desk daily with special attention to your phone, keyboard and mouse. Try to avoid touching these items when you are eating to minimize bacteria transfer.
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after you grub (and keep some hand sanitizer in your desk drawer).
- Invest in a placemat for your desktop dish. You use them at home, right?
- Be sure to bring your containers home for a wash. Try the Aladdin Collapsible Lunch Collection to keep your lunch leak proof, fresh and easily transported to and from the office.
- Take out the trash. Leftover items can be smelly and waft through the office. Head to desk dining manner school to learn more.
Give your desk the dirt test from Dr. Gerba. Turn your keyboard over and see how many crumbs fall out. The more leftover goodness that comes out, the dirtier your desk is.
For the days when you just can’t get away from the emails and the phone calls, use these desktop items for portion control guidance.
How did you fair on the desk dirt test?
Photo courtesy of duchesssa via sxc.hu.
