Avoiding Tempting Treats in the Office

How many of you are faced with tempting treats in your office? Chocolates on your co-workers desk, goodies in the vending machine, a never ending supply of cookies and brownies left over from meetings, the fresh donuts that your client brings in. The apple you brought in for your afternoon snack no longer looks so appealing! Read on to learn some tips on how to deal with tempting treats in the office (and watch my video of how I handled chocolate in my office!).

I happen to be a chocoholic (and love many other sweets as well). I usually do quite well avoiding them … unless they are in my environment. Once I get started, it can be hard to stop! And it’s even worse when the treats are in your office. Chances are that you are tired, stressed, and just looking for a break from work.  These foods can be just about impossible to resist. Many of my clients experience the same problem. I even have one client who gets daily emails from her co-worker alerting her as to what goodies are in the office kitchen. Yikes! So I thought I’d post a few tips on how to handle temptation in the office. (pic of muffins in my office)

Tips to avoid tempting treats at work:

1. Avoid the room where the treats are kept. Make a detour around the “danger area”.

2. Bring in your own healthy snack from home. When the others are munching on cookies, take out your apple.

3.  If your co-worker insists on keeping candy on her desk, buy her a jumbo bag of a kind of candy you don’t like. (pic is of my co-worker Alissa with a bag of chocolates)

4. If cookies are on the table at your meeting, take a seat far away!

5.  Chew gum (discretely) or keep mints in your mouth when around the treats. You’ll be less likely with eat the cookie with a mint taste in your mouth.

6. If you find the treats impossible to resist, allow yourself a certain amount (maybe 150 calories worth). Then cut something out later in the day – like a glass of wine or a smaller portion of rice at your dinner.

7. If the treats are ongoing in your office, I would recommend you keep a food record of what you eat each day, or at least a “treat food record”. This can help make you more aware of what you are eating.

8.  As a last resort, check out how I handled the never ending holiday chocolates in my office …

Please share any tips you may have on how to handle treats in the office!