The pandemic has changed the way we work and influenced us in many ways. The modern idea of working from home is one of them.

Although this new paradigm has aided businesses in preventing the spread of the virus among their employees, it still has one drawback: mindless eating.

At least in the early stages of the pandemic, many people used their free time at home to cook and bake, and they cut down on take-out meals. As a result, we began to eat cleaner and healthier foods unknowingly.

Those who had to juggle WFH and household tasks, on the other hand, didn't have time to schedule their diets.

These people discovered that their lives were becoming more inactive and their eating patterns had become more dysfunctional. Not to mention the physiological explanations for turning to food when something appears to be falling apart around you.

Mona Johar, Functional Integrative Nutritionist and co-founder of Mechanism Wellness, lists ways to practise healthy eating when working from home in a special for IANS.

Structure your day

In the last year, we have been driven into eating disorders due to a lack of common comfort zones such as socialising, commuting to work, and spending time outside. The chaos created by a lack of routine. It is important for people to stick to a routine, attempting to wake up and sleep at regular intervals. This will give them meaning and put an end to the "pandemic boredom." Diet, exercise, and sleep will all fall into place until there is a system in place.

Desktop diet

Meals on the desk are an inevitable conclusion as life revolves around a table and chair for the majority of the day, as it does with homeschooling and WFH. Snacking can help keep your energy levels high, but it also helps your body store excess fat in a moderately active environment. A mixture of low calorie and high protein snacks or low calorie and high fibre snacks should be consumed. Prepare your meals ahead of time and keep them as fresh and healthy as possible.

Eat mindfully

Diets are not conscious or logical eating habits. They're mindsets that encourage you to trust your instincts and listen to your body's hunger and fullness signals by rethinking food choices and habits, returning to conventional eating methods, and engaging your senses by recognising colours, smells, tastes, textures, and taste.

Begin an intuitive journey

Respect your hunger: Make sure your body is getting enough energy and carbohydrates. All thoughts of mild, aware eating become meaningless once you hit a point of extreme hunger.

Don't eat for the wrong reasons: Get in touch with your emotions and don't use food as a reason to avoid coping with difficult feelings like frustration, anxiety, or loneliness.

Make peace with food: Buy foods that you want to consume. Listen to your hunger pangs; it's good to indulge every now and then.

Stop when you're full: Pay attention to your body's signs that you're no longer hungry.

Exercise and walk for pleasure rather than to lose weight or to burn calories.

Consume nutrient-dense foods: Pay attention to how you feel after eating balanced, high-quality food.