Cheat-Proof Your Office Space
Can't stop snacking at work? Try these real-world strategies.
The workplace abounds with food challenges. On any given day you're expected to dodge mindless snacking, office celebrations and stress-induced vending machine runs. Sometimes it can feel like the only way to stay on your plan is to hide under your desk and avoid your coworkers. (And that's no way to climb the corporate ladder.)
You can create a healthier office environment for yourself, saysMilton Stokes, MPH, RD,a Connecticut-based registered dietitian and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. If you know what you're up against, you can arm yourself with the tools (mental and otherwise) to stay on track.
The Worst Workplace Food Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
The food landmine
These nutritional tripwires appear in the form of a dish of chocolate kisses, a reappearing plate of doughnuts or bagels, or an ever-present box of leftover pizza. They seem harmless, but indulging in the office candy bowl can pack on the calories and ultimately cause a weight gain, according to research published byBrian Wansink, PhD,Cornell University food psychologist and author ofMindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.
What to do:Stock your own stash. "Make sure you have healthy snacks on hand so you can avoid the temptation," says Stokes. Carrot sticks and hummus, peanut butter and rice cakes, strawberries and fat-free yogurt—you get the picture. Satisfying, low Smart Points®value snacks will keep you humming along!