Food… it can consume every aspect of a person’s life! It is a powerful mood enhancer, can support a better night’s sleep and can work to supercharge the mind and keep the body healthy. That being said, an active business environment can often create poor choices when it comes to choosing a suitable lunch break meal.
Keep in mind that the meals you consume can make everyday tasks a little easier, so why wouldn’t you want to pay more attention to the lunch-break foods you consume? There are certain ingredients and products that can strengthen the way our brain functions, give energy and enhance focus.
Here are 7 lunch-break foods that could supercharge your productivity in the office.
Salmon
Omega-3 fatty acids play a key role in the health of your brain. Eating salmon and similar fish helps improve communication between cell membranes (increasing brain function), and can improve your mood. As an antidote against depression, a salmon salad or a salmon and rice dish for lunch can boost productivity.
If you are a vegetarian or a vegan, you should consider omega-3 rich alternatives like flaxseed, seaweed, chia, walnuts, kidney beans and edamame.
Berries
Not only are berries low in calories and excellent in maintaining a healthy weight, they’re also packed with antioxidants and provide energy when working from home or in the office. As well as this, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and cranberries improve memory! Why not try adding them to your lunchtime porridge?
MCT Oil
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides oil. This is a form of saturated fatty acid that’s most commonly extracted from coconuts. Other sources include butter, cheese and most kinds of dairy products. Recently, MCT oil has been labelled as a brain superfood!
Spinach and green leafy vegetables
Spinach and other green leafy low-carb vegetables rank among the staples of a healthy diet. They are a potent source of many micronutrients and vitamins that you can’t obtain from other food.
In addition, they are an excellent source of antioxidants that protect the cells against the harmful activity of free radicals. Regardless of your age, you should have a spinach salad at least a few times per week at work.
Nuts and seeds
Graze on nuts and seeds throughout the day. Eating a bunch of almonds and cashews as a snack can support feeling satiated, replenish energy and repower your brain after lunch. Fun fact: almonds and sunflower seeds are filled with types of fats that make your brain function at a healthy level!
Fresh fruit
Fresh fruit is an absolute must within the workplace, and for all the obvious reasons. The likes of apples, bananas and satsumas are fundamental to a healthy diet and help to soar productivity levels. Serviced office space from BE Offices provides fresh fruit for their occupants daily, recognising the importance of consuming fruit within the workforce.
Green Tea
A daily cup of green tea can benefit your health in multiple ways. As a caffeinated beverage, green tea increases your alertness when feeling sleepy in the afternoon. Matcha, a Japanese powder made of a whole green tea leaf, provides benefits of fibre and is a close competitor for coffee.