Self Care through Healthy Eating
October is Healthy Workplace Month – an annual celebration designed to promote workplace health. As a mother of two teenagers, I have always been talking to them about the benefits of eating a healthy well-balanced diet, exercising and getting enough sleep. However, I realized that I often didn’t listen to my own advice. So, over the past six months, I have been intentionally focusing on my own self-care and feeling so much better as a result – both physically and mentally.
Diet, exercise and sleep are directly related to how we feel throughout the day and how we interact with those people around us. They can also help to relieve some of the stress we are feeling. Good food is fuel for energy and immunity, but eating healthy is hard work. It takes planning and preparation! Here are a few hints that may help you eat nutritious foods.
Eat Breakfast – Breakfast kick starts the metabolism and stops us from being so hungry we grab whatever is available-doughnuts, muffins, chips. Breakfast should include protein, carbohydrate and some fat. Add some protein powder to a frozen fruit and almond milk smoothie. Hard boil some eggs in the evening and you have a few for the week, add a piece of fresh fruit and you are on your way.
Stock up on Healthier Snacks – Have a stash of non-perishable snacks for guilt-free snacking or to round out your lunch. Dried fruit, nuts, canned fruit in water or unsweetened applesauce, whole wheat crackers, mini boxes of whole-grain cereal, rice cakes, peanut butter, granola, protein bars and tuna.
Don’t skip Lunch – Eating regularly helps to stabilize your blood sugar and will help you from being tired and cranky and will keep you away from the vending machine.
Drink Water – Fatigue is one of the first signs of dehydration.
Keep in Mind!
- Consider the supermarket as your fast food restaurant-many have pre-washed fruits and veggies as well as yogurt, low-fat cheese, sushi, wraps and salads.
- Chicken and fish from the drive thru are not always healthy! Breaded, fried and on white bread, some chicken or fish sandwiches have as many or more calories and fat than the “burger”.
- Order a sub or sandwich on whole wheat bread and skip the sauces.
- Order a side salad instead of fries and use a small amount of the dressing.
If you have any questions, or would simply like to share your ideas, please contact me directly at lisa.watson@bethanyseniors.com.
Kind regards,
– Lisa
Leave a Reply