 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Rushing for work and no time to have a sandwich and a fruit? Slam on the brakes, take a U-turn and return to the kitchen! It may not be one of the wisest decisions to skip meals, particularly breakfast. Given our hectic lifestyles and workdays that can last anywhere from 9 to 12 hours, the best thing you can do for your body is give it the nourishment it needs.
Here are 5 easy tips to make sure your eating habits are working for you:
First dose of energy
First thing in the morning, post brushing your teeth, have a glass of warm water with a bit of lemon juice and half a teaspoon of honey. This concoction will help in flushing out all the toxins from your body and giving you the first dose of glucose to start your day.
Breakfast
The major flaw is that we begin our day is by skipping breakfast. "Breakfast is one meal of the day that kick starts your metabolism," says dietician Janaki Rawal of Parulekars Gym, Mumbai.
Breakfast should be the main and the first meal of the day. Your brain needs glucose to perform its tasks that helps you to think better and be more productive at work. By skipping breakfast, over the long run you in turn are reducing your level of productivity at work.
"Since you haven't eaten your breakfast well, you tend to feel lethargic, cannot concentrate on work and tend to feel hungry all the time," says Janaki. Furthermore, you become sluggish at work and skipping breakfast also means inviting acidity.
Frequent meals
Hunger pangs are known to strike especially when it is not lunchtime. In such cases, keep a fruit handy. The best thing you could do is keep a box of chopped fruits of all colours, such as oranges, apples, pears and bananas etc and dig in whenever hunger strikes.
"Preferably have fruits in the earlier part of the day as the sugars present in the fruits will get used up. During the latter half of the day, since the metabolism slows down, these sugars from fruits then get converted into fats," adds Janaki.
Variety in food style
Janaki recommends that you should add some kind of variety in your food habits. Eating the same food every day can be boring for you and your tummy. So, if today you've had chapatti and sabzi, then tomorrow try a heavy-duty club sandwich.
Chew well
Chew your food well. Remember, your first stage of digestion begins from your mouth. Most of the time you are so caught up with work, that you want to finish eating and rush back to your workstation. Don't do that! Ideally, sit down and relax and use your lunch break to give your brain and yourself a breather. Eat well and enjoy your meal.