As we get busy and stressed, we tend to make good nutritional choices that can actually decrease our stress levels and minimise other problems. Good nutrition keeps you going when busy and will look after your body when you are distracted. Here are some tips for getting good nutrition and maintaining a healthier diet, even under stress.
After a few weeks, they’ll become habit and you won’t even have to think about good nutrition. And your body—not to mention your stress level—will feel the difference!
Good Nutrition habits
Eat Breakfast:
You may plenty of reasons for skipping breakfast- You’re not hungry yet, you don’t have time, that lunch will come soon enough, you need to diet anyway, or that a coffee on the way to work is all you need. BUT. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to maintain stable blood sugar levels and effective functioning during your busy day. You can easily grab a hard-boiled egg and bottle of orange juice on your way out the door, right?
Opt For Green Tea:
If you’re a coffee junkie, you may not realize the effects caffeine has on your system. You can reduce your stress levels and improve your mental performance throughout the day if you gradually wean yourself off of large amounts of caffeine. A relatively easy and healthy replacement is green tea, which has a soothing taste and the added benefit of loads of antioxidants. One small change that goes a long way.
Try Sparkling Juice
If you’re a coke addict, you’re probably experiencing the same health consequences from caffeine that coffee drinkers experience. Also, you should know that caffeine drains your system of water, so drinking it is akin to un-drinking water.
A more healthful alternative is sparkling fruit juice, or sparkling water. You’ll still be getting a refreshing treat, but you’ll be adding water to your system, rather than detracting it, and you’ll be avoiding other caffeine-related side effects.
Carry a Snack:
Having some protein-rich, healthful snacks in your car, office, or purse can help you avoid blood sugar level dips and accompanying mood swings and fatigue. Trail mix, granola bars, and certain energy bars all contain good nutrition. Bananas are also a really great snack.
Along these lines, you should always have water handy, as it’s so vital to health and proper physical functioning.
Healthy Munches:
If you find that you absently snack when you’re stressed, or have a pattern of snacking at certain times in the day or week, you can replace chips, cheese curls and other less-healthy munchies with carrot sticks, edamame, celery sticks, sunflower seeds or other healthier choices. Even popcorn is a better choice if you leave off the butter and salt.
Brown Bag It:
Many people buy lunch from fast food places that serve heavy, oily, salty options. These make your body work hard which leaves you tired and sleepy and less able to focus on work thereafter. You can save money and feel more alert and well if you take a few extra minutes to pack and bring a lunch from home. Even if you do this only a few days a week, it will make a huge difference. Perhaps a nice salad even would be great.
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