Healthy Practices

1. Consumption of Breakfast

During the epidemic, many office workers switched to work-from-home arrangements, eliminating morning commutes. And if you've ever had a schedule that required you to rush through school drop-off and rush through traffic to get to your desk on time, you know that breakfast is often the first thing to go. "People frequently use the excuse of "running out of time" to avoid having breakfast," explains Reinagel.

Some people used the time saved by not having to rush through the morning commute to improve their self-care by doing simple things like eating breakfast. This can assist with weight loss. A study published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society in June 2021 indicated that those who skipped breakfast were more likely to consume more added sugars, carbs, and total fat during the day. "Some elements you want in a healthy diet, like fiber, are often front-loaded for the day at breakfast," Reinagel explains.

2. Prepared Lunch

When offices closed due to the epidemic, many individuals were forced to forego takeout lunch specials — according to a survey by market research firm Acosta, 31% of people ate lunch at home every day, compared to only 18% pre-COVID — and this may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

According to a study published in April 2020 in the Journal of Nutrition, researchers assessed the nutritional quality of meals eaten at full-service or fast food restaurants using data from 35,000 Americans between 2003 and 2016. They found that less than 0.1 percent of meals were of ideal quality, based on the American Heart Association 2020 diet score. As people return to work, preparing lunches for the office can help keep weight in check.

4. Checking Your Weight

If you wear fitted clothes to work every day, a tight waistline can indicate that you're gaining weight. But what if you're constantly sweating, as many individuals were during the pandemic? That's when you'll want to use the bathroom scale. According to study published in the journal Obesity in February 2015, measuring yourself more frequently is consistently linked to improved weight outcomes. It's a good idea to keep it up even if you return to zippered pants.

5. Including whole grains and beans in your diet

People stocked up on shelf-stable goods like dried beans and whole grains early in the pandemic to help reduce grocery shop trips. These are also some of the healthiest foods on the market. "Eating these meals more frequently improves intestinal health. People who consume a lot of these foods are more likely to maintain a healthy weight, according to Reinagel.

People who eat three servings of whole grains per day have fewer waist size increases than people who eat little or no whole grains, according to a study published in The Journal of Nutrition in July 2021. Even though you may be shopping more frequently now, it's always a good idea to maintain these essentials on your shopping list.