After college, I started working in the corporate world almost instantly. (Except for a 3 month period where I was a soccer coach and trainer!!!) I would never bring a lunch, I would just bring my handy old credit card and eat whatever I felt like eating. For breakfast, I would usually swing my McDonald’s for a breakfast bagel meal or go to our cafeteria before work to get a HUGE breakfast burrito. For lunch, I would get in my car and go out to eat wherever my heart desired.
That trend happened up until a few months ago, when I joined Team Savage. I realized I needed to really focus on eating 6 meals a day and that required bringing food to work in order to make that happen.
I wanted to write a post to show you what I bring to work to stay on track with my clean eating. This is a typical day of food that I bring to my corporate job where I’m stuck in a cubicle all day.
Usually my work food includes:
- Natural Peanut Butter
- Greek Yogurt (plain)
- Celery
- Carrots
- Kashi
- Blueberries
- Asparagus
- Raisins
- Strawberries
- Oats
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Protein Muffin
- Broccoli
I will usually either bring a piece of chicken or have some of my canned tuna at my desk (picture above shows I decided to go to tuna route that day).
In my desk pull-out drawer, I have another stash that includes my tuna, meal replacements, almonds and rice cakes.
Above my desk, I have some more protein, tea and my multi-vitamin. I also keep a plate up there with silverware so I can re-heat food I bring to work.
Finally, I have a side drawer that’s filled with more whey protein and some nasty green shakes that I ended up giving to my boss. I will refer to those things as “swamp water”. Ugh..I don’t know how people drink that stuff!!!
I also have a mini blender that I keep in our break room. I use it sometimes for my shakes.
The last thing I keep at my desk is my big nalgene water bottle. It completely helps me with staying on track with my water intake. I try to drink a gallon of water a day, which comes out to only 4 fill-ups throughout my work day. I never have a problem finishing a gallon before 4pm!
You may think this is overkill, but if you’re prepared, there’s no way of falling off track! This really does work for me. I have no problems with eating clean during the work day (7:30-4:30), it’s the after-work part and weekends that’s tough for me!
I think it would be hilarious if I did something bad, got fired (not really funny), and someone had to come clean out my desk. They would realize that they had a bit of a meat head working at this desk 🙂
Does your desk look anything like mine? What do you keep at work to keep you on track with your goals?
I wish I had as many snacks as you do!
Loveee this post (and obvi your blog)!! I have 2 questions-
1) How do you like the GNC Lean shakes?? I’ve been wanting to try them (I currently use Optimum Nutrition…an upgrade from Jillian Michaels) but they are at the higher end of my budget!
2) What do you pack your lunch/snacks/goodies in? I’m looking for something a little more durable than a grocery bag 🙂
Thanks!!
I like the taste of the GNC lean shakes. They are pretty good and fit my budget. I pack all my work food in a grocery bag, just like you. I’m classy like that 😉 Maybe I should upgrade at some point, but grocery bags are just so convenient!
Oh wow- you have more of a stash in your desk than my pantry!
I have a “snack drawer”, but mostly it’s just saltines, pretzels, granola bars, green tea, extra salad dressing (that isn’t open and is there for when I run out of what is in the refrigerator).
Man you really know how to prepare! I don’t know how people buy lunch everyday, I can’t even imagine doing that me and my broke self.
Wow you are set! I pack my meals every day but don’t keep snacks at work or I would eat them!
Great article. I’m a firm believer that reparation is the key to all healthy living. I’m the same as you and have a little cool bag I take to work.
Almonds are def great in between meals. Looks like a solid way of keeping in shape as well as saving money. Good post.
This is so motivating to me!! I am in a similar situation and all of the fast drive thru days just caught up with me and I’m ready to make a life long change. I’m curious though, how/when you eat what you bring to work? For example, if you bring 4 boiled eggs to work…do you just eat one every so often? I guess I need some guidance on an eating schedule if you have one. Any help would be great!
Sure!!! I have posted several food logs in past posts that show exactly what I eat at what times. That would definitely help. Basically I eat every 2-3 hours. As for the eggs… I eat all the egg whites at meal 1 plus oats, peanut butter and fruit!
I was wondering what do you put in you Tuna?
I have been eating mine plain actually! I know it’s not as good but it’s healthier 🙂