Today desk dining is becoming a common (and sometimes expected) part of the office environment. In fact, 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. Don’t blow your healthy eating habits when you are tied down to your work space. You may not keep a slew of measuring cups in your desk drawers but common desk items can help with portion control.
Tip #2: Be Portion Savvy
Eating in between answering the phone and replying to emails means you are focused on work which can cause mindless overeating. Keep yourself in check by using desktop items for guidance on portion control.
- Use your coffee cup to measure the 5 servings of fruits and vegetables you should strive for daily.
- Your mouse is about the size of a serving of pasta or rice.
- A letter key on your keyboard is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of margarine.
- Your calculator is about the size of a 1 ounce slice of lunch meat. A sandwich should have 2 to 3 ounces.
- Use your tape dispenser to gauge a 1 ounce piece of cheese by measuring the area where the tape is dispensed.
- One ounce of snack foods like pretzels should be able to fit in your pencil holder without overflowing.
- Write a sticky note on your phone that says to “drink more water” so you are reminded to get your daily fluid allotment of 9 to 13 cups in.
- Use your pen or pencil to keep a food log that is sure to keep you on track!
Bringing your lunch into the office is a great way to eat healthy and stay in moderation when you can’t find a dining hub away from the work piles. When you are done eating try not to keep any food at your desk to avoid mindless reaches into chip bags or candy jars. A good excuse to get up from your desk for work relief is to head to the fridge to grab the pre-portioned snack you brought from home.
Read more on keeping your desk dining sanitary and how to eat up without your co-workers giving you the evil eye.
Do you have any suggestions on not overdoing meals at your work place?
Photo 1 courtesy of arinas74 via sxc.hu
Photo 2 courtesy of foxumon via sxc.hu
Photo 3 courtesy of JackTse via sxc.hu
