In Search of the Work-Food Balance

We’ve all been there. One minute we are vowing to eat healthier to benefit our training, the next we realize we just polished off a box of Girl Scout Samoas because it was the only food in the car. At least they are carbohydrates, right? And look, one whole gram of protein!

Eating empty fuel can leave us feeling even more hungry and it can affect our training goals. Long term, improper nutrition can lead to higher rates of injury and illness. If you’re not a professional athlete with time to plan out meals, it can be difficult to know how to best eat healthy in moments of stress, when traveling or when strapped for time. The good news is, it is possible to train hard and eat well despite a busy lifestyle.

In general, as a runner, you should be striving to eat every two to three hours to keep your energy high, blood sugar stable and to stay satiated throughout the day so you aren’t left grabbing cookies by the handful.

The ultimate goal is to have both protein and carbohydrates at all meals and snacks while in a training cycle or running more than three times per week. Protein provides the fullness and sustained blood sugar, while the carbohydrates provide the energy.

Always ask yourself, “Does this meal or snack contain protein?” If not, try to figure out how you can include it. It may be something as simple as eating a handful of almonds with your apple or adding some beans or chicken to your salad. 

Putting the following concepts into practice is your ticket to finding that work-food balance. 

1. Keep Your Stash Full

This one may sound intuitive, but it is crucial for avoiding those energy drops. Placing pre-packaged nut butters or granola bars in your coat pockets, glove compartment or desk drawers can help when a craving strikes. Make a habit of restocking once a week, on grocery day.

Pop open a nut-butter packet and eat it plain or put on crackers, fruit or vegetables. Convenient, portable options that can be taken to the office include: canned or bagged fish (like tuna or salmon), whole-grain crackers, string cheese, Kind bars (low sugar, some protein), oatmeal packets, hard-boiled eggs, individual trail-mix packs, Greek yogurt, avocado and whole-grain bread.

Pro Tip: Stash your favorite seasoning at work (like Spike, garlic salt, fiesta seasoning, etc.) to encourage eating foods like avocado, hardboiled eggs or fish rather than packaged snack foods.

2. Put a Lid on It

This one requires a little bit of prep, but nothing that someone short on time can’t do. For breakfast, something as simple as overnight oats will suffice. Simply place ½ C whole-rolled oats and ½ C alternative milk in a jar or container and let it sit overnight. Top with nuts, fruit and spices and grab on the way out the door (can be heated or eaten cold). For lunch, things like a wrap or layered salad in a jar will do the trick.

3. Think Outside the Box

Thinking outside the box for meals and snacks can mix up the boring peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich you are used to. Trying new things, like sweet-potato toast topped with nut butter and banana or rice cakes with avocado, hummus and sliced hardboiled egg, can prevent boredom and encourage healthier choices.

Pro Tip: Get saucy. Buy or make a couple of healthy sauces that you love. Transfer them into travel-safe containers and keep them at work or wherever you find yourself snacking. Top your snacks or meals to keep things interesting.

4. Try Meal Prep (just a little bit)

A small amount of meal prep on a weekend day can set you up big for a healthier work week. Doing things like buying an extra dozen eggs and hard boiling them, making a large batch of quinoa or chopping up vegetables for the week can help ease the stress of knowing what to pack on a hectic morning.

Pro Tip: Making a large batch of quinoa or brown rice with vegetable or chicken stock and coconut milk instead of water makes a great meal base or emergency snack.

5. Hydrate

One of the biggest challenges when trying to eat well is actually hydrating properly. Exercise increases fluid and electrolyte requirements and when we don’t get enough of those things, we tend to mistake our dehydration for hunger. This can prompt overeating and impulsive choices.

Pro Tip: Carrying a water bottle, downloading a water tracking app on your phone or trying some new water infusions can help.

—Kylee Van Horn is a licensed Sports Registered Dietitian, 2:49 marathoner and competitive trail runner.