Posted by
Sara on
Friday, May 30th, 2014 with
4 Comments
Followers of food news and health-conscious diners who are looking for healthier office meals have heard it all before: the Mediterranean diet is almost too good to be true. Research has suggested that following a Mediterranean-style diet can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve memory, and even prevent depression. That’s why Mediterranean-inspired office meals are one of the healthiest cuisines that wellness-focused workplaces can serve.
The secret to olive oil’s heart-healthiness lies, naturally, in eating your vegetables.
Image source: Flickr user netsnake
And by and large, it makes sense. The diet is rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, and fish, and low in red meat and processed carbohydrates. One question that has plagued researchers may finally have its answer, though. The Mediterranean diet isn’t necessarily low-fat — olive oil and nuts are staples — yet following it seems to prevent heart disease and lower blood pressure. How is that possible?
The answer, as always, is to eat your vegetables. A new study on the Mediterranean diet in mice, published May 19th in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has found that it’s the combination of certain vegetables and olive oil that’s responsible for the Mediterranean diet’s heart-healthiness.
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Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, May 29th, 2014 with
6 Comments
Is there anything more satisfying than a good slice of pizza? Gooey cheese stretching from slice to pie as you lift it away to your plate, a few scattered slices of pepperoni, and maybe a light sprinkling of red pepper flakes on top… perfection. There’s a reason this comfort food is a food delivery staple at the office, especially when employees are working late nights.
But sometimes we can get burnt out on pizza, and the old favorite becomes totally expected. Inject some creativity into your next pizza order by taking advantage of the latest food trend: artisan pizza.
Arugula on a pizza provides a fresh contrast to rich meats and cheeses.
Image source: Flickr user Charles Haynes
That’s right — pizza is getting a gourmet makeover. From fresher ingredients to artisan cheeses to gourmet toppings, pizza restaurants focusing on handcrafted, high-quality pies are opening to great success across the country. Some create individual pizzas to order along their counters, Chipotle-style, while others are concocting menus of elaborate pizzas with unusual — yet delicious — ingredients.
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Posted by
Sara on
Wednesday, May 28th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Liven Up Healthy Office Meals with These 5 Nutrient-Rich and High-Fiber “Superseeds” Comments
It’s no secret that eating healthy office meals can require some creativity… after all, you can only eat so many sad salads for lunch before you start rethinking whether losing that last five pounds is really worth it.
The good news is that there are lots of ways to eat a delicious, healthy, and varied diet at work! From choosing more nutritious takeout to celebrating Meatless Monday with your coworkers, there are a number of strategies you can employ to stay committed to your healthy food habits. One secret weapon you may not have considered yet? Superseeds.
Hemp and pumpkin seeds are easy to slip in healthy dishes, from yogurt to salad, and add a big nutritional punch for their small size.
Image source: Flickr user Jennifer
Nuts may get all the glory, but seeds are just as nutrient-rich and easily incorporated into your daily routine. While most seeds are relatively high in calories and should be eaten in moderation (around a handful per day), they’re also high in fiber… which helps you feel full long after you’ve finished your “light” lunch.
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, May 27th, 2014 with
6 Comments
Busy admin assistants are often tasked with ordering food delivery for the office…which often means trying to find a one-cuisine-fits-all approach that will satisfy all kinds of coworkers. And while it’s easy to stick with tried-and-true favorites like pizza and Chinese, there’s one cuisine that is wonderfully well-suited for pleasing all kinds of diners: Greek food.
Greek dishes like moussaka are an unexpected yet easily accessible choice for food delivery orders.
Image source: Flickr user Alpha
If your only exposure to Greek food is the yogurt that’s taking over the dairy aisle at your local supermarket, you’re in for a treat. Greek food is a cuisine full of savory grilled meats, tangy cheeses, tons of flavor — and a fantastic choice for your next food delivery order. It’s more exciting than the usual pepperoni pie or chicken fried rice, but offers enough familiar ingredients and flavors to keep less adventuresome diners happy, too. Vegetarians, meat lovers, gluten-free dieters, healthy eaters, diehard Paleo diners… there may be no cuisine better adapted to satisfy a wide range of tastes and preferences, which can be a lifesaver for admin assistants trying to feed a crowd.
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, May 26th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Skip the Lemonade, Start with Watermelon: 6 Easy Swaps for a Healthier Company Picnic Comments
Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, but it may as well be the official start of company picnic season. And since swimsuit season is right around the corner as well, we think it’s high time to examine how to have a healthier picnic lunch. It can be all too easy to pile a plate with hot dogs, rich side dishes, and hearty desserts… and think that just because you might play a game of Frisbee after, you’re in the clear!
Start your picnic with a slice of watermelon for a healthy, belly-filling appetizer!
Image source: Flickr user Michael Neel
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Posted by
Sara on
Friday, May 23rd, 2014 with
Comments Off on From Cortisol to Vitamin C: How Food Delivery Orders Can Help Reduce Office Stress Comments
Stress is something we talk about a lot — especially in the context of the workplace — but it’s something few of us really understand. While we may think of stress as a mental condition or frame of mind, it’s actually a very physical experience… and one of the easiest ways to combat stress at work is by selecting the right food delivery orders for our mid-day nourishment.
Hummus and red bell peppers can help reduce stress.
Image source: Flickr user Abdulla Al Muhairi
It works like this: when presented with a stimulating experience (whether it’s positive or negative, from a frustrating driver that cuts us off in traffic to an exciting football game), our nervous system initiates a response. Without going into too much detail, our adrenal glands release hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol into our bloodstream, each doing their part to ready our bodies for whatever action this stimulating situation might require. In most cases, it’s incredibly helpful: our lungs take in more oxygen, the arteries leading to the skin restrict to slow down bleeding in case we’re injured, and our cells that are storing energy are activated to keep our resources at the ready so we can react quickly. Our bodies are primed for action, like running away from a threat or facing down a foe (or ready to tackle a big presentation at the board meeting).
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Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 with
5 Comments
Workplace wellness programs are a true win-win: when done right, employees get healthier, which translates to lower health care costs and a more productive workforce for employers. Even morale and engagement can improve, as employees who feel like their companies care about and support their well-being may find greater meaning in their work. Of course, partaking in wellness-related perks, like healthy office meals, complimentary or reduced-price gym memberships, and even free flu shots, don’t hurt either.
So why is it so tough to get a majority of employees to participate in workplace wellness programs? Really, for all the same reasons it’s tough for any of us to get healthy when we know it’s good for us… it’s just plain hard to start a new habit (or break an old one).
Make it easy for employees to access healthy office meals.
Image source: Flickr user Lachlan Hardy
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Posted by
Sara on
Wednesday, May 21st, 2014 with
Comments Off on Admin Assistance: From Snacks to Whole Grains, How to Plan Diabetic-Friendly Office Meals Comments
It’s the sad truth that by now, more than eight percent — almost one in ten — Americans are diabetic… and 35 percent of us have a concerning condition called prediabetes, with elevated blood glucose levels that greatly increases the risk of developing full-blown diabetes within the next decade.
Admin assistants can help plan diabetic-friendly office meals.
Image source: Flickr user Nate Grigg
So chances are, you have a diabetic or two in your office: a coworker who is trying to balance their diet and their insulin levels, and oftentimes their weight to maintain the healthiest lifestyle they can, all while navigating the office meals and business lunches that can undermine their best efforts. And it’s easy — so easy — to lend them a helping hand. Arranging workplace meals and lunches that are friendly to the diabetic lifestyle doesn’t mean serving a bowl of sugar-free candy and apologizing to everyone else. A few thoughtful choices and small extra steps can make office meals much more amenable to a diabetic diet.
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, May 20th, 2014 with
Comments Off on The Low-Fat Trap and Add-In Overload: 7 Mistakes Even Healthy Eaters Make at the Corporate Catering Table Comments
Nothing’s better than showing up to a meeting and spotting a great corporate catering spread. Yogurt and bagels for breakfast, a big salad bar for lunch, plentiful snacks and beverages throughout the day — it’s a healthy eater’s dream. Right?
Not all catering table pitfalls are this easy to avoid!
Image source: Flickr user mac morrison
Not so fast. Even the best intentions can be waylaid by a few small choices that add up to an unhealthy day of eating at work. Whether it’s a simple lunch meeting or a structured all-day training session, here are the seven mistakes that even healthy eaters make at the corporate catering table:
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, May 19th, 2014 with
8 Comments
If you’re looking for a flavorful and creative cuisine to serve at your next business lunch, think Japanese — but this time, leave the raw fish out of it.
While sushi makes for a delicious lunch at the office, and is certainly the most famous kind of Japanese takeout food, there’s a wide range of other items that make excellent fare for meetings or a more formal business lunch. Like with any new cuisine, it can be tricky to know where to start, so here’s our primer for some of the most popular (and tastiest) items to consider for your first foray into the beyond-sushi world of Japanese cuisine!
Ramen is perhaps the best-known Japanese food outside of sushi, but it’s an incredibly diverse dish.
Image source: Flickr user xxHxx
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