Lifestyle

Eating healthy at the office

When hunger strikes at the office, it helps to be prepared to keep your nutritional goals on the right path. Eating lunch – or dinner, depending on your schedule – during the work day is a given for most people. Snacking is probably also part of the office routine. To make healthy food choices, it's a good idea to build out a meal and snack plan for the day or the week.

"I typically recommend creating a plan for the following day before heading off to bed. Think about what your schedule entails for the upcoming day and schedule your meals and snacks accordingly," said Kristen Smith, a dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A day of nutritious eating can begin before arriving at the office. Eating breakfast within an hour or two of waking up may help boost your metabolism and control hunger later in the day. Healthy eating can yield benefits in the long run. Research shows a poor diet is associated with deaths from heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.