Many of us are finding our new at-home workspaces are a little too close to the refrigerator.
“It’s actually really common, even among those of us who consider nutrition our profession,” says UCSF dietitian Melody Champagne. “We are not able to be ask active as we’d like. So it is a big challenge.”
It is not just because we are staying home more; the added stress of the coronavirus pandemic can cause us to eat more and adopt less healthy habits.
“There’s a number of biological reasons around that,” says Champagne. “But partly it’s just one of the ways we soothe ourselves. Also if you’re at home and you’re bored one of the most common things to do is to wander in to the kitchen for a snack.”
She suggests switching to healthier snacks such as fruit and vegetables and planning meals around your available produce.
“If you’ve never eaten three meals a day, don’t expect yourself to eat three meals a day. If you’re a two meal a day person, think about when those meals usually happen and try to keep to that schedule. And if it’s not time for a meal, ask yourself if you’re actually hungry or if you’re just bored.”
It wouldn’t be out of the normal to gain a small amount of weight during a time of upheaval, and many people may gain five to 15 pounds.
Taking short walks around the neighborhood twice a day can have physical and psychological benefits, and is allowed under the Bay Area’s current shelter in place order.