Office Snacking--Watch What You Eat

For those of us who sit at a desk some (or all) of the day, snacking can become an issue. When cravings hit, consider making healthy choices which will prevent you from gaining weight and losing energy. Eating a hearty breakfast and a nutritious lunch that's low in carbs can also help you make it through the day without a terrible afternoon slump.

Some choose to break their morning and noon meals into smaller portions that they eat every few hours. This system keeps the metabolism going strong all day, which in turn keeps calorie-burning steady throughout the day.

For those who don't plan to dine every few hours, Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, has an interesting article on WebMD which you can read here. She lists a number of snacks and beverages that can help fill your tummy between major meals, without making you feel unhealthy.

One of the largest issues with office snacking, is "mindless eating" or eating because you are bored. Magee's article suggests that those who eat while doing other work, or just for the sake of eating, tend to eat just a much at their next meal as when they don't have a snack, thus potentially adding hundreds of superfluous calories to their diet. Now that's some food for thought.

Happy snacking!

Contributing: Chris Giovarelli
Image: Ben Lau