FitSugar

Speak Up: What's in Your Lunchbox?

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:30:56 -0700

I'm in a lunch rut. For the last week I've been eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and an apple. I usually make a big dinner the night before so I can bring the extras with me to work but I've been having a lot of guests over, which equals no leftovers.

I'm in desperate need of some lunch ideas and would love to hear what you take with you to work. What healthy lunches do you pack?

Do You Brown Bag It and Bring Your Lunch to Work?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

When you are trying to eat healthy, and especially if you are counting calories, it really helps to pack your own lunch no matter if you are eating at work or school. This however takes some pre-planning and a few extra minutes in the morning, both of which can be hard to come by. Not only is it a great way to save money, bringing your lunch to work ensures that you are eating healthy fare (if you pack healthy fare!) without hidden calories. I bring my lunch most days, but how about you...

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How Often Do You Bring Your Lunch to Work?

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:47:44 -0700

Eating out can be hard on the wallet and the waistline. I try to bring my lunch to work, usually leftovers, every day. While that's the goal, I probably only meet it three out of five workdays. What about you?

How to Prevent Overeating at Barbecues

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:30:43 -0700

If you're headed to a barbecue this weekend, arm yourself with these tips from fellow FitSugar readers on how to prevent overindulging on all the good eats.

Hottpink says, "I make sure I eat a little something healthy before I go. If I arrive at the BBQ starving then I have a harder time controlling myself!!"
"I bring something that is healthy that I know I like and try to fill up more on that. Then either eat the other stuff in moderation that's not so good or bring substitutes like turkey dogs or slaw with a vinegar dressing as opposed to mayo, etc." - kclulu
"I let myself have a hamburger and a few chips so I don't feel deprived, and fill up the rest of my plate with fruits and vegetables." - a million suns
"I stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and that helps keep my hunger in check. I also let myself have one to two bites of something that is not so good for me, and fill the rest of my plate with things that are nutritious." - telane

Read a few more tips

10 Ways to Avoid Gaining Weight at Work

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:50:00 -0700

Working nine to five can wreak havoc on your waistline. The stress makes you crave junk food, and often you're too overworked to have the energy or time to exercise. When I asked FitSugar readers how they avoid gaining weight at work, here's what they said.

"Stairwell stair climbing . . . My heart is racing and my legs are burning." - YumYucky
"I just keep lots of healthy snacks around (fruit, Kashi granola bars, and crackers) and bring my own lunch to avoid temptation." - Renee3327
"I spend most of my lunch breaks walking outside (there's a park down the street) or running on the treadmill (my gym is 7 minutes from my work giving me just enough time to drive there, change, run 3 miles, change, drive back.) Also, willpower is key. Today was a birthday so there was chocolate cake, and I just think how much I'd have to exercise to burn off one piece - not worth it!" - Vanonymous
"I always pack my lunch and keep fruit at my desk or my cubby fridge." - jessy777

To see the other great tips from FitSugar readers, read more.

"I never eat out or use the vending machine. " - Niami
"I always make sure to work out first thing in the morning . . . I always take stairs instead of the elevator . . . I make sure to have a healthy protein-packed breakfast, and I'm usually not hungry until 2 p.m." - Mila_83
"I don't avoid all of the free temptations, but I limit myself to one or two small ones a week." - darc5204
"I stopped carrying loose change. Whether it was $1 or 50 cents, I don't take it to work. It stops me from buying a soda and chips and candy to get that little, worth-nothing jolt of energy to meet deadlines." - tamaradulva
"I also avoid the break room, where there's usually free food. When there are birthdays or people bring treats in, I go but don't have a slice. I'm usually not the only one who abstains, so it doesn't make me feel awkward." - deanna024
"I graze on fruits and veggies and take a walk during my lunch break instead. Eating a big meal at midday makes me tired." - Anonymous

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How to Stay Healthy on Your Honeymoon

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Even for the most fitness-minded among us, honeymooning and exercising aren't necessarily a match made in heaven. It's hard to get motivated to exercise on vacation, especially after your wedding. But just because you're ditching your gym routine doesn't mean you can't balance your relaxation and indulgence with some sensible habits. Here are some tips for staying healthy even when you're over the moon.

Schedule active activities. Probably the most obvious tip, but not to be forgotten. When planning your itinerary, consider tourism that will get you moving, whether it's a scenic hike or a bike tour. Staying beach-bound? Bring along some props, such as a Frisbee or paddleball set, which will engage you and your new mate.
Explore on foot. If you're vacationing in a city, forgo taxis and transit for walking. As long as you make sure to stick to safe areas, walking is a calorie-burning way to feel good about your vacation indulgences, and it's a great way to see a city too.

To see five more ideas, read more.

Choose indulgences carefully. Just because it's your honeymoon doesn't mean you should throw all caution to the wind. Think about what you most want to indulge in, and allow yourself one or two a day rather than pigging out every meal. Try to keep things in balance: if you have an extra piña colada at lunch, skip dessert at dinner.
Walk it off. Even if you're not seeing a city on foot, consider taking a 45-minute walk after particularly indulgent meals. Research suggests that walking right after a high-fat meal can help reverse potential damage to your arteries.
Explore the local bounty. Whether you're staying on a tropical island or in a European city, do some shopping at the neighborhood food markets. Picking up local produce, seafood, and other fresh foods will help you snack sensibly while experiencing local flavor.
Share your suppers. It's tempting to eat everything on your plate while on vacation, since you can't take the leftovers home. So split an entrée with your newlywed to save both money and calories.
Dine al fresco. If you're vacationing in a hot climate, eating outside may help you eat less. As opposed to being in AC, dining al fresco can make you crave more liquids and less food.

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Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Gaining Weight at Work?

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:30:00 -0700

Many jobs require you to sit for eight hours a day, and if you don't have time to break away for lunch, you may have to grab the quickest meal, which tends to be not so healthy. Then there are the office parties complete with chips, soda, and cake, the frequent Dunkin' Donuts runs, the co-workers who bring in baked goods weekly, and those who make microwave popcorn daily. Stress from your job and long hours make you feel too tired to work out, and all this can translate to an expanding waistline.

So for those of you working 9 to 5 (or longer), tell me, what are your tricks and secrets when it comes to avoiding office weight gain?

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Start a Biggest Loser Competition in Your Office

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The office is often a place where people end up gaining weight. What with all the sitting around all day, snacking at your desk, office parties, ordering food as a group, and the baked goodies co-workers bring in, it's no wonder extra pounds start to creep onto the scale. So instead of getting fatter at your job, lose weight together by starting a Biggest Loser-style competition in your office.

To find out how read more.

Choose a starting date where everyone gets weighed. Record the numbers on a chart (post it or have a responsible person hold onto it).
Then choose to do weekly weigh-ins or just do one big weigh-in on the last day.
Choose an end date. Make the competition for a short amount of time - I'd say two to four months long in order to see some real progress.
Then of course, figure out what the Biggest Loser will win. Everyone can put in $10 to $20 and the winner receives the grand total, or you can wager something, like everyone chips in to get the winner a massage or lunch out at their favorite restaurant.

Keep in mind that it doesn't matter how many pounds you lose - it's the percentage of weight you lose as compared to your body weight. Although it is a competition, you can encourage each other to eat healthier by having office potlucks and ditching the 3 p.m. runs to Dunkin Donuts. You can also motivate each other to work out by exercising at the office or hitting the gym together on your lunch break.

A little healthy competition can be just the thing to help you ditch your old habits, and even if you don't win, you'll feel good knowing you're getting healthier.

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Fittingly Green: BPA-Free Food Containers

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Ever since the BPA/Nalgene scare of 2008 - in which we learned that bisphenol A could cause all sorts of health problems - manufacturers have been churning out BPA-free plastic water bottles and baby products. Now, BPA-free food storage is also becoming easier to find.

Since we know that bringing your lunch to work is a healthy habit, make it even healthier by packing food in BPA-free plastic containers. I love these fittingly green food storage containers from Preserve made from 100 percent recycled plastic. Buy two square containers for $5.99, a large round one for $2.99, or the smaller version for $2.79. Rubbermaid also has an extensive collection of BPA-free containers to help you go green.

Healthy Habit: Lunch on High Fiber and Lean Protein

FitSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:30:00 -0800

If eating healthier is one of your goals for 2009, you might want to reconsider your lunches. Nutritionist Alexa Fishback, author of The Daily Fix, has a way to make your mid-day meal work for you. Stay tuned for upcoming nutrition tips from Alexa and be sure to enter our Get Fit For 2009 giveaway for a chance to win a personalized nutrition plan created by Alexa, along with many other amazing goodies.

Here's Alexa's lunch advice:
When it comes to our midday meal, many of us choose whatever is most convenient or perhaps forgo lunch altogether as a tactic to save calories, time, or money. Others build up a ravenous appetite (often because they have skipped breakfast and/or a midmorning snack) and jump fork-first into a midday calorie trap. Here are a few tips to navigate some common lunchtime scenarios:

Stuck in the conference room for a lunch meeting? Discretely peel away the cheese from the pre-made turkey sandwich and grab a mustard packet instead of mayo; drink a bottled water instead of a soda, and opt for the fruit salad over the cookies. While it might not be your favorite meal ever, wouldn't you rather save the calories for Saturday night?
Working at your desk through lunch? Plan ahead. Pop open a can of Amy's Organic lentil soup and heat it up in the office kitchen. Then pair with some whole wheat crackers and an apple. Not too shabby for a quick lunch.

For two additional lunch ideas, read more.

Eating out? Order a salad loaded up with lettuces and other nonstarchy veggies, a portion of lean protein (grilled chicken breast, tuna, or chickpeas), and a portion of unsaturated fat like avocado or nuts to add a creamy flavor. Ask for a vinaigrette dressing on the side and enjoy your meal with a multi-grain roll.
Stay-at-home mom eating at home? Toast a couple slices of whole wheat bread to bring out the nutty flavor, spread a tablespoon of natural almond butter on each piece, and top with either banana or strawberry slices – yum.

For more tips, check out all of Alexa’s Healthy Habits or pick up her book, The Daily Fix.

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