POLOKWANE – We have all had one of those days where you sit in a meeting the whole day without any eating, and when you eventually do get a break, you are faced with mostly unhealthy food options.
During the 2016 Dietitians Week, people were asked if they are encouraged to have a break and move around in long meeting, and almost half of the respondents said they were not.
Brief comfort breaks have been shown as a useful way to improve the “health” quality of meetings.
Have you noticed how difficult it can be to eat healthy and maintain focus on days when you have long meetings, especially those that run over meal times?
We know that what we eat and drink at work affects how we feel, behave, and influences productivity, so the choices available at meetings really do matter.
Some tips to make meetings healthier:
• Drink water. This is easily accessible e.g. jugs on tables or within walking distance
• Fruit and vegetables available in easy to eat servings
• Starchy carbohydrate foods available mostly in high-fibre form (e.g. wholegrain)
• Options for low-fat milk, spreads and low-fat mayonnaise labelled accordingly
• Few or no pastries, deep-fried items, creamy sauces or dips
• Low-calorie dessert choices including fruit or yoghurt or very small portions of traditional desserts
• Few or no sweets or crisps on tables
• Healthy snacks in breaks such as fruit, nuts and seeds, wholegrain crackers and plain biscuits
• Directions to the meeting, promoting active travel (for example, parking not being next to the entrance)
• Opportunities for brief “comfort breaks”.
Dietitians are the experts in looking at the most up-to-date research on links between diet and health, including how we feel and behave at work and translating this into practical guidance.
For more information visit a registered dietitian in your area. Find a registered dietitian at www.adsa.org.za
Anke van Waveren is a registered dietitian
