“The first wealth is health.” Emerson

 

Success at work is subjective. For some, it's monetary, for others its achieving their goals. And maybe for the rest, it’s just about being happy. But as Emerson said it, if you don’t have your health you won’t achieve success.

 

There is a direct correlation between #womensnutrition and well-being with #healthy #eating being at the core of a successful work environment. 

 

We are trained in our discipline by seeking an education, specializing in our field and implementing learned skills and knowledge at work, whether we are a professional in a company or an entrepreneur running our own business. Both entail time management to balance our workload from meetings to actual production time to accomplish our tasks. We come out as heroes when everything runs smoothly. 

 

However, are we maintaining a healthy, balanced #diet and feeding our mind and body efficiently? In order to attain such success, as we burn the midnight oil, and work long days, we often forget to meal plan, develop poor eating habits, indulge in late dinners or miss eating meals altogether.

Nutrition Education

As young children, we learn about food and nutrition in school but the real education begins at home with our families with the food we ate growing up. If proper nutrition is not taught from the beginning, we carry these habits (good and bad) into adulthood and into the workplace. 

 

Why have nutrition education? It’s to reinforce specific nutrition-related practices to change habits that contribute to poor health. People need to be motivated for change, to create desirable food and nutrition behavior for promotion and protection of good health.

 

The basis for good nutrition and #womenshealth is to establish a meal plan to save time and prevent bad food choices. You avoid prepared meals and processed goods while reducing traditional food waste because you buy only what you need, thereby limiting trips to the grocery store.  Meal-prepping also saves you money because you can buy your food items in bulk and freeze them. 

 

When you take time to prep, think big. Prepping volumes of food ahead of time will save you both time and money, and hence, less stress. Solving your food decisions in advance saves your willpower for stress and helps you reach your goals faster, whether at home or at work! Check out this  video about meal planning to help you start your week!

 

 

According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, “…a workplace health program can influence a person’s long term health and wellness…with elevated mood, energy, and self-esteem.” Almost 40% of Canadian skip their breakfast increasing their risk for morning brain drain. 

 

Here are some general #tips when you are rushed in the morning, between meetings or at risk of missing a meal:

 

·      Make and freeze your breakfast ahead of time with French toast, steel-cut oats or a breakfast burrito that you can heat up in the microwave

·      Pack a lunch to save time and money

·      Pack snacks and keep them at work like grain crackers, small portions of unsalted nuts and plain popcorn, for your desk drawer or put cheese, yogurt, hummus, fruits/veggies in the fridge

·      Bring a re-useable water bottle to keep hydrated and limit caffeinated drinks

·      Stay active at work – walk down the hallway, go for walks during breaks to increase energy and weight management

Companies that offer programs for healthy eating at work are investing in long term health and well-being for their employees.

Bottom line: healthy eating and a good diet lend to increased energy and productivity to reach your goals - whether in the workplace or working from home. Preplanned meals, time management, and good habits are the keys to success, whatever that may look like to you, but in the end, health is your ultimate measure of success.  Register for our webinar with Michelle Juda, Holistic Nutritionist, on how to increase brain power with healthy eating at work.

Written by Avanti Women Member and Volunteer Blogger, Shama Jawaid