Women's Media Nation | Social, political, and cultural issues relating to women

Go healthy with your office lunch

posted by ChickSpeak
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 3:49pm CDT

Around 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon, half the office spills out onto the streets, dispersing into local delis, cafés, and restaurants. The other half remains indoors, sitting obediently at their desks within the confines of small cubicles. This scenario may sound familiar because it represents, more or less, a portrait of one of the most common working situations in the United States. In fact, it may even be an understatement of what really takes place on a day-to-day basis.

According to the American Dietetic Association and the ConAgra Foods Foundation, around 70 percent of Americans choose to eat lunch at their desks several times per week. On the surface, this statistic may appear to be both innocent and inconsequential. What impact, after all, could a working lunch have on one’s health and energy? Research has revealed, however, that eating at one’s desk is related to consuming meals of less nutritional value and even exposing oneself to food safety problems.

Given these facts, why would an overwhelming majority of American workers choose dining in front of a desktop to having a healthy meal with friends, colleagues, and family? The answer is surprisingly simple. The same workers who decline to leave their desk for lunch are the ones who are stressed out by the pressures of the office, supposing their schedules to be inflexible and far too busy without the added task of consuming food.

Many people believe that eating at the desk is a practical way to save time. Because more offices nowadays are laying down the law when it comes to checking social media accounts during work hours, the one-hour lunch appears, for most people, like a rational time to catch up with friends, share the latest gossip, and send a few personal emails.

Unfortunately, it is while we are checking our friends’ Facebook pages and Twitter accounts that we indulge, perhaps subconsciously, in overeating. While multitasking, it becomes easy to finish off a whole plate of pasta and chicken before realizing that we have either exceeded our calorie intake or feel too full.

Here are three easy ways workers can overcome their unhealthy eating habits at work without feeling obligated to leave the office:

Balance is key. While an apple a day may keep the doctor away, one fruit is hardly likely to keep you full for eight hours straight. Pack a well-balanced meal, replete with vegetables, beans, nuts, chicken, and fruit. This way, you will get your daily dose of nutrients while ensuring a full and satisfied stomach. Remember to pack a moderate-sized meal and keep a few snacks within reaching distance just in case, like a small bag of nuts or a banana.

Keep yourself moving. Whether we travel by car, bus, or subway to work, it is likely that we are either sitting down or standing within a cramped space. During the lunch hour, try to move around. Take a walk around the parking lot, pay your fellow coworkers a friendly visit, or stretch your legs at the water cooler. This will prevent you from feeling lethargic and keep you in shape, especially since sitting at a desk can become such a way of life that you no longer feel encouraged to move, exercise, or walk.

If you must eat at your desk, then make sure to disinfect all surfaces, including but not limited to your mouse, keyboard, and phone. Take a few minutes to go to the bathroom and wash your hands before picking up your food. Paper towels, though plentiful and certainly useful in emergency situations, do little to combat the almighty germ, so always make sure to keep at least one or two disinfectant wipes in your desk drawer.

Katherine J. Chen is a rising junior at Princeton University majoring in English with a certificate in Creative Writing. She absolutely hates eating at her desk, and plans to dine out more this summer.