Now that we’ve all been stuck inside for a few weeks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some of us may be noticing our guts getting a little bigger than they used to be... YIKES! It is incredibly easy to give in to the temptation of eating up all the food in the house in one go – after all, we've got nowhere to be! Before you know it, you may have mindlessly kicked back and binged Hulu or Netflix while munching through 4 bags of potato chips without even realizing it! 

Though exercise is a HUGE part of keeping your body fit and toned, a healthy diet is just as important (some believe that it is the MOST important aspect of maintaining your fitness!). To keep yourself on the right track you’ve got to make smart, conscious choices on what you’re putting into your gullet. Here’s how:

Create a Schedule

No, you can’t just eat constantly and hope for the best. Time can drag on or pass in the blink of an eye when working from home, so you’ve got to be conscious of not only WHAT you’re eating, but WHEN. To start, you’ll need to:

• Eat breakfast AWAY from your desk. Oatmeal, avocado, eggs – these are all great options. You want PROTEIN-rich foods to keep you balanced and satisfied so you don’t just turn around and grab another snack after you’re done!
• Plan for snacks between each meal. Face it, your mind is likely to wander to what you had for dinner last night or what you’ll be enjoying this evening. You’re bound to get hungry between meals. Instead of sneaking into the kitchen every 20 minutes, plan for snacks ahead of time. Nuts and fruits are great options for munching in-between meals.

Meal Prep

Create your meals ahead of time! This will help you to be more attentive to each ingredient that you’re integrating into your meals. Make sure your diet is comprised of:

• Vegetables: Dark green, red, and orange veggies are ideal, along with starches and legumes.
• Fruits: Whole fruits especially!
• Grains: Make sure that at least half of the grains you’re eating are whole grains.
• Fat-free or low-fat dairy products: Feel free to toss in some milk, yogurt, cheese, and/or soy substitutes.
• Protein: Lean meats and poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, seeds.
• Fats: Olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado are great examples of GOOD fats. Limit your intake of saturated and trans fats.

Limit Caffeine Intake

Living and working in the same place, day in and day out can be mentally exhausting. Coffee can help with that, sure, but you do need to set some limits on it to keep your health on track. Try limiting your caffeine intake to the hours of 9-11 am. This way, it will not interrupt your natural sleep cycle!

Working from home is tough to adjust to, especially concerning your diet. Follow these tips to keep yourself on track during lockdown (and so you don’t have to work off a bunch of extra weight when the gyms reopen)!