Stay Healthy: The Importance of Eating Fresh Food at Home

Published: Tuesday 21 April 2020 in News

It’s never been quite so important to look after ourselves, eat well and enjoy a healthy lifestyle as it is now. While we’re all stuck inside, it’s very easy to snack regularly and turn to fast-food for some of our daily meals. But fresh ingredients play a major part in a healthy lifestyle, so it’s vital that we keep on cooking.

Your Diet When Working From Home

According to NHS advice, a healthy, balanced diet is important to keep you at your best. And your diet shouldn’t suffer while you’re working from home. If anything, it should improve.

We’re going to show you a selection of healthy Tenderstem® work lunches that you can try as part of your balanced diet, which should include:

At least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day
Starchy foods high in fibre such as potatoes, rice or pasta
Dairy or dairy alternatives
Beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein sources
Plenty of fluids (at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day)

How to Eat Healthily Working from Home

You may have thought that working from home would make eating healthy easier. After all, there’s less temptations to nip out from the office for a Meal day, sausage roll or even a round of lattes and mochas for the team.

However, we’re all creatures of habit, and when you’re just as busy as you’ve ever been, the idea of cooking something from scratch in the middle of day is never going to be top of your to do list.

So what can you do to motivate yourself to keep on cooking healthy meals from breakfast through to dinner?

Structure

A well-structured routine works just as well at home as it does in the office. Did you always take your lunch at a certain time of day in the office? Keep eating at that time.

Even coffee breaks can help you keep your day structured. Schedule in quick phone calls with a co-worker over a coffee, just as you would in the office.

Make sure you have clear space between your work and home life. Is your laptop open on the kitchen table while you eat your breakfast? This will only lead to you becoming lazier in the kitchen, snacking more and eating unhealthily. Create a clear timeframe for eating healthily away from your work.

Meal Prep

Just because you’re working from home, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carry on prepping meals if that’s what you’re used to doing. And if you’ve not tried meal prepping before, now’s a good time to give it a go.

It’s easy to get started. Just make use of your weekends to cook something delicious in large portions and store in your fridge ready for eating on your daily lunch break.

Spiced chickpea and giant couscous salad with Tenderstem® broccoli

This combination of chickpeas and giant couscous will keep you from snacking away all afternoon. Top with Tenderstem^® broccoli and fresh tahini dressing each day for a delicious lunchtime treat.

Quinoa Salad with Tenderstem^® broccoli, Soy Beans & Chilli Dressing Served with BBQ prawns & Spring Onion Kebabs

Quinoa Salad with Tenderstem® broccoli, Soy Beans & Chilli Dressing Served with BBQ Halloumi & Spring Onion Kebabs

Quinoa is a filling, starchy food which will satisfy you all afternoon. Served with a tasty chilli dressing and barbecued halloumi skewers, this is real lunch time treat that you could so easily have for dinner too.

Tenderstem^® broccoli, Bulgur Wheat, Chicken & Artichoke Salad

Keep your protein intake high with this chicken and artichoke bulgur wheat salad.

Tenderstem^® Broccoli Chilli & Chickpea Bites

These Tenderstem^® broccoli, chilli and chickpea bites are very versatile. You can make a big batch of these and enjoy them throughout the week for your lunch. You might even find they’re the perfect 3pm snack. Or, make slightly bigger and voila! You’ve got veggie burgers for your evening meal.

Be Inspired

You may have had holiday plans, or would like to visit your favourite Spanish restaurant that you simply can’t do right now. Instead, you can bring your favourite world cuisine to your kitchen with one of our Tenderstem^® adventures.

Greek Adventure

Traditional Greek food is made up of an endless list of delicious ingredients and dishes: fresh fish, olives, olive oil, feta cheese, sweet baklavas, traditional breads and local wines. The list goes on. Read about our expert guide to Traditional Greek Food and browse our Greek Recipes to bring a taste of the Mediterranean into your kitchen.

Middle Eastern Adventure

Browse our Middle Eastern recipes, specially created by celebrated chef and cookbook author Yasmin Khan. Yasmin brings you traditional recipes from the heart of the Middle East, where fresh ingredients come together to create easy to cook and flavour-packed dishes.

Spanish Adventure

Working from home, you may have already adopted a Spanish lifestyle of afternoon siestas and early evening aperitifs. And who could blame you? Your next step is to start cooking some sumptuous Spanish recipes. Tenderstem^® broccoli is perfect for Tapas dishes, adding an irresistible crunch to spicy Spanish sauces, and even better when added to a seafood paella.

African Adventure

African food is becoming more and more popular in the UK, as we discover the continent’s rich culinary traditions and diversity all across the land. African chefs such as Zoe Adjonyoh are spreading the word about African food with terrific cookbooks and delicious African recipes such as the ones she’s created for us at Tenderstem^®.