One of the biggest challenges one faces when working fromhome during the lockdown period is to keep nutrition in check, says anutritionist.
Nutritionist Pooja Makhija says being hydrated, keeping acheck on caffeine consumption, planning meal times, keeping away from junkfoods and not eating at one’s desk are extremely crucial.
It is extremely essential to complete 8-12 glasses intake ofwater daily, she said. Being hydrated also acts as a barrier to potentialunnecessary snacking because most of the people often confuse thirst withhunger.
“Dehydration can lead to fatigue and affect your productivity.Best way to keep a monitor on your water intake is by setting hourly reminderson your phone or setting a target to complete a jug of water by EOD (end ofday) just like your work tasks,” Makhija said.
According to her, one has to try to be mindful of how muchcaffeine one is consuming and when, as drinking it too late can affect sleepcycle. Too much caffeine can cause digestive issues like ‘more’ acidity andgas, anxiety and headaches. “Try and stick to two cups of coffee, andavoid excess creamers and sugar.”
Since one is not working according to a scheduled time zone,it is important to not skip any meals. Breakfast is still the most importantmeal of the day and ensuring your breakfast is healthy is essential.
“Repurpose your 30-minute commute time by preparing ahealthy and sufficient breakfast meal filled with oats, fruits, protein andrich in fibre foods. Schedule all your other meals as well, be it lunch, dinneror even your evening snack break,” she said.
She suggested that trigger foods like junk and chocolatethat tempt one to snack or over-indulge should be cleared from the cupboards.”Stock up your pantry with healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, dryfruits, rich in fibre foods, healthy fats, etc…”
“You might be tempted to continue working through yourlunch break especially while working from home. Dont do it. It can lead todistractions and lead to over-eating and decreased satiety from the meal.Instead, get up and enjoy your meal properly. This will enable a balanced meal,proper chewing and avoid excess-eating,” Makhija said.