Working from home is great. You can sit at your desk in your pajamas, flex your schedule to suit your mood and you’re right next to your own kitchen so you have unlimited access to coffee and snacks. Hold on! That means you can you can’t stuff your face with potato chips and chocolates when you sit at a desk all day. That will soon become a problem. So how can you maintain a smart diet when you’re working from home? Here are 5 tips to help you.
Bring the Gym Home
No time to go to the gym, well there’s a simple solution to that: buy a home gym. There are a lot of options to choose from. Which one you prefer will depend on the amount of room you have in your home, and your budget, but it can be a worthwhile investment if you use it regularly. Here’s a good place to start if you’re looking for a home gym.
Snack on Fruit
Next time you have the munchies instead of reaching for the cookie jar, grab a piece of fresh fruit. That way you cut down on your calories and get the benefit of fruits’ many antioxidants which boost your immune system, help prevent illness and disease and reduce the effects of aging. Have a container of fresh fruit at hand, with slices of apple, pear, cantaloupe, pineapple, and a selection of berries.
Add on the Veggies
If you are something of a reluctant vegetable eater you might balk at the idea of adding extra to your diet, but they are essential for a good health and they will fill you up without adding on the pounds. Try to introduce them one a time. Start off by snacking on baby carrots, sliced red pepper or broccoli florets, you can flavor them up with a yogurt dip or fat-free dressing. If you have a sweet tooth, add them to dessert snacks like carrot muffins or eggplant layer cake.
Stay Hydrated
You may not realize what an important part of your daily diet water is. Staying hydrated will not only help you look and feel more vital, it will also help you maintain your energy levels. Aim to drink around 8 glasses per day, more when you are working out. If you feel that water is a little bland, jazz it up with a slice of lemon, cucumber or a sprig of fresh mint.
Switch to Whole Grains
Ditch the white bread and refined white grains and replace them with healthy whole grains. Whole grains are higher in fiber, which means they are great for your digestive system. Opt for whole wheat bread, whole grain cereal, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice.
Avoid Portion Distortion
When it’s lunch time, don’t fall prey to portion distortion, which is, loading up your plate with a bigger serving of food than you need. Before your next meal, spend a minute and think about how much you have been eating lately. Use a smaller dinner plate and make sure your serving of meat or fish takes up only one quarter, potatoes, pasta or rice should take up another quarter and the rest should be filled with vegetables or fruit. If you’re still hungry when your plate’s empty, help yourself to another serving of vegetables.
Following these simple tips will ensure you don’t gain extra pounds while you busy at home earning the dollars.
Millie Godfrey started working at home a few years back when she started her own online business. She now writes inspiring and motivational articles about work/life balance and staying fit and healthy.