Teachers are some of the most hardworking people you’ll meet, but the reality is that there is minimal time for teachers to care about their health. A lot of teachers suffer from a low-quality diet and high rates of being overweight. Poor nutrition practices can also impact the rest of the classroom. As a teacher, improving your diet helps your body and brain function well so that you can be the best version of yourself, which will impact positively to your classroom. Try out these tips to keep your nutrition levels high even during busy school days:
Track what you eat
Though teachers may not have much time to go to the gym, they can keep fit through their food choices. When finding the right motivation for weight loss, one expert tip is to keep a food diary. You can improve your chances of keeping weight off by logging your meals and snacks consistently. You can write down what you ate after every meal or plan out your meals at the start of each day, so you lessen deviation. You can also keep things creative by taking pictures or illustrating your dishes. The tracking process doesn’t have to be arduous; keeping things fun can help you stick to healthier options for longer!
Pack your lunches and snacks
Cafeteria food may be accessible, and the teacher’s lounge might be stocked with treats, but they might not be the most nutritious option. Rather than school lunches, you can pack some easy and quick-prep meals before school. Salads are a quick fix; you can choose your ingredients and dressings. Overnight oats are also a good option, as you can prepare them at night with all sorts of toppings, saving you time in the morning. For snacks, fruits and nuts are healthy options to keep your cravings at bay. Packing your food can give you more control over your ingredients and the nutritional value of your meals.
Lessen your alcohol consumption
Being a teacher is no easy job; teachers all have different ways of unwinding after a busy school day or week. A couple of glasses of wine or pints of beer can sometimes help take the edge off a hard day, but indulging in it too much doesn’t benefit your health. Some claim alcohol can be good for the heart, but research has challenged that. Light to moderate drinkers have a lower risk of getting cardiovascular diseases as opposed to people who drank more throughout the week. It isn’t wrong to have a drink now and then but keep it at a moderate or low level to ensure your health is always at its best. Instead of pouring yourself a glass or heading to a bar, you can opt for non-alcoholic options or use your usual drinking time for a quick workout too.
Stay hydrated
Drinking water is often a no-brainer, everyday task, but its health benefits are often taken for granted or underrated. It’s a zero-calorie way to boost your brain’s functions, aid digestion, and flush out waste from your body. It’s also been shown that higher water intake is associated with a lower risk of mortality. Heart disease and cancer risks were also found to have been lower when people drank more water. To get your standard eight ounces of water daily, bring a water jug to school that can stay cold for longer so you don’t get put off by lukewarm water. If you regularly have a sugary drink or more than one cup of coffee daily, replace those with water. You can also add a slice of lemon or cucumber to your water if you want more flavor.
If you want more fitness tips for teachers, check out these posts for more.
