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Avoiding the Temptation of Junk Food
June 14th, 2010 | 
Author: By Julia, Editor, Work, Wife, Mom… Life! (@julialadewski)
Ever since I started my new job 7 months ago, I’ve been working strange hours (afternoon into evening). Because of this, my eating schedule and habits have been completely thrown out the window.
My perfectly planned schedule used to read:
*breakfast
*snack
*lunch
*snack
*dinner
*snack
Now, it’s something along the lines of:
*breakfast
*leftover breakfast from what my daughter didn’t eat
*lunch (1/2 lunch because I’m too lazy to fix myself a full one that will fill me up)
*snack (at work)
*dinner or constant snacking throughout the night
*junk food when I get home from work because I’m starving but yet too tired to make a real dinner
It stinks. I hate eating this way. I hate that I’m always hungry. I hate that every time I sit down to a meal, someone’s tiny little fingers are trying to pick off my plate. That apple I was going to eat? Nope. Someone else wants it. The taco I made? Nope. Someone else wants it. I really do need to just stand up for myself and my food.
I have been making more of a conscious effort to be diligent about what I eat at work. Since I’m there at dinner time (but often very busy), I bring a sandwich, a piece of fruit or something else like pretzels. That takes away the temptation to buy cookies from the cafe or M&M’s from the vending machine.
But what happens when a co-worker brings in some homemade cookies that she wanted to share? Or someone offers to buy you an super duper mocha chocolate iced coffee drink? Can’t pass that up, right? Yes, you can. Always have something on hand. A baggie of dry cereal (I love the Quaker oat squares), some veggies and dip, or some pretzels with peanut butter. Yum-o!
Being a busy mom (whether you work outside the home or not) can often cause us to not take care of ourselves. But if you can’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of your kids?
What are you favorite on-the-go snacks? Any tips for avoiding the junk at work?
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I think we all fall in to this. My mom told me early on when she saw me doing this at a holiday dinner to look at it like the oxygen masks- you first, then them. It seemed harsh- BUT she said it taught kids to respect adults. The only time I defer is when it is MY parents or an elderly family member to show my respect to them. Also shows they will not always be the ones to get their choice all the time- food, drinks, whatever. She also said to nip in the bud the food grabbing of my food, because that taught taking without asking, and frankly as they get older, some people will REALLY detest that unless it is offered.
The office kitchen is the WORST. I do not take sweets in when we have extra becuase I eat 3x’s as much if I left it at home. I’ve started keeping some yogurt & string cheese in the office fridge. i find graham cracker with peanut butter & drizzle honey is good and quick too (plus portable). Another good one, PB w/ a slice light whole wht bread & some blueberries. fold over to “secure.” may sound odd, but it’s really good and slips some fresh fruit not just jelly. My kids really like that.
Do you love hummus? They’re so good on Stacy’s Naked Pita Chips and on veggies! I also love fruit, whole wheat bread with a smidge of peanut butter and a drizzle of honey. The original Fiber One cereal… 1/2 Cup is only 60 calories, it’s packed with fiber and it’s SO filling! String Cheese rules also, the low fat kind! I’m a sucker at work for all things junk. At home? I’m fine! I need to lose 10-15 pounds in 6 weeks to avoid taking medication that I don’t want to be on. My downfall is when I’m working. As of today, I’m taking a stand. No more candy and lots of water. No more eating out for lunch! I will bring only what I should eat on that day, if I stock up, I’m bound for failure.
Stop by my blog on Friday, where I host Friday Fatties. It’s where we meet, weigh in and slap each other around for being bad or cheer each other on for being good!
Pamela´s last blog ..A cleaning product that sucks and a horror movie that does not
I am a terrible snacker, too. I refuse to let my kids eat off my plate though. I’ve also taken to eating my meals after the kids finish, too. That way I don’t have to stop eating every few minutes so I can get someone a drink or seconds or to clean up the baby when he’s done. It’s much more relaxing to eat when no one else is.
Bethany´s last blog ..Discipline: The Creative Part of Parenting
I try to keep some ready-to-go fruits in the fridge, and place them eye level where I’ll actually see them and remember. Grapes are great for this, since they don’t need to be cut up and will keep well in a bowl. I also grab for 100 calorie packs when I have a sweet/salt craving!
Ditto the fruit and 100-calorie packs. I like protein bars in my purse so I have junk alternative when I get hungry.
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I think eating healthy is hard. But I agree that hummus is a great idea.
alicia´s last blog ..Crazy Loves Company
yeah, i recently got into hummus too!!! i need to learn how to make it homemade though.
i’m definitely getting better at standing up to my kids… my husband helps me through it. my daughter is the worst. she’ll say she’s done eating, then when i sit down to eat, she wants mine. lately, we’ve been telling her no, and i think she’s starting to figure out that she’s actually hungry.
thanks for all the tips ladies!! keep ‘em coming.
and Pamela, i will definitely stop by on Friday!!
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I always pack my lunch and snacks, including some sweet things. I eat pea pods dipped in hummus for a snack, or those 100 calorie things I have heard other people mention, and I guess it’s really just about making the choice NOT to eat the stuff other people bring in. I am lucky in that there are only three of us in the office, and only one man, so when there are b-days or something one of us makes something sugar-free and as fat-free as possible, and he just eats whatever is on the table.
I’m a huge snacker and always have been. Back when I had an office job, I kept a drawer filled with almonds, fruit, granola, and pretzels, and I tried to keep string cheese, cut-up veggies, and yogurt in the fridge.
But like a person on a desert island, I had a hard time passing up the stuff people brought in to share (I mean, who knew when I’d get free coffee cake again, right?). I started asking myself, “Is this actually going to be really yummy, or just something to put in my mouth?”
Now that I’m working at home, it’s harder somehow. I think I kept better snacks at the office! We don’t keep junk food here, so I snack on the same stuff I feed my toddler: whole-grain pretzels, apple slices, baby carrots. Plus almonds or walnuts for me. Honestly, I miss the surprise treats of the snack table…I know I will never wander into my kitchen to find that someone left some freshly-baked cookies or leftover birthday cake!
(Oh, but wouldn’t that be nice??)
As for enjoying/eating meals, I hate eating w/ the kids and try to eat later, when I can relax.
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