YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health (Summer 2016) | Page 15

JULIE GILBERT, APD
Julie Gilbert is the Founder and Head Dietitian for Solutions with Food (www.solutionsfood.com.au). Having started
Solutions with Food in 2004 by herself, Julie has used her knowledge and experience from over 10 years of work in the
industry to now manage and run Solutions with Food into a company full of dedicated dietitians aiming to help all of its
clients achieve their desired outcomes. Learn more about Julie at n4foodandhealth.com

HEALTHY SNACKING

AT WORK

Nutrition expert Julie Gilbert shares her tips for healthy snacking at work.

A

re you guilty of eating at your desk, eating that chocolate bar hidden in your draw because you don’t have time to
leave the office, or are you slogging through your workload while trying not to get breadcrumbs on your keyboard? If
this is you then all of this desk time could be helping you to put on weight.

If you are guilty of a café desk, here are three tips to help you foster a new habit of getting away from your desk to eat lunch,
which will encourage healthy snacking.

1

Eat lunch at the right time
and you will avoid piling on
the kilos

When you eat, is as important as what you eat
for managing your metabolism, hunger and
weight control. The most important decision you
should make is to eat lunch before 1pm. Most
of us eat around 2pm to 3pm, after a morning
fuelled by coffee and snacks. This mindless
refueling throws out your natural hunger cues
and tricks you into thinking that you are eating
less than you really are.

2

Eat lunch in a
natural setting
like outdoors

Eat your lunch in a natural setting
like outdoors or in a well-lit room
where you can be ‘engaged
effortlessly’. And try and stay off
your digital devices to truly give
your brain a proper break. This
offers your mind a chance to
refresh before approaching your
tasks ahead.

3

Eating should not
be a multi tasking
event

By paying attention to the food you
are eating, you increase the
enjoyment of your food and so are
less likely to overeat. Eating while you
are preoccupied doesn’t allow your
brain to properly process the amount
of food you consume, resulting in you
taking in more calories than you need
to feel satisfied. 

SUMMER 2016 YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE

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