Healthy Alternative Snacks in Tulsa and Oklahoma City

A Healthy Energy Boost in Tulsa and Oklahoma City

Healthy Alternative Snacks in Tulsa and Oklahoma City

Have you ever had one of those days when you need an energy boost to make it through the day? If you have, you’re not alone. Even athletes such as elite marathoners sometimes need an energy boost while training and competing. Marathoners have traditionally used gels for an energy boost, but there is a new trend among athletes that could soon find its way into your healthy breakroom vending machine—caffeinated gum. Caffeine is known to increase one’s alertness and decrease fatigue. Recent research about caffeinated gum and its effects on athletes by New Zealand’s Eastern Institute of Technology’s Carl Paton confirmed that caffeinated gum behaves in the same way as gels by improving performance, focus and clarity. To combat your afternoon slump, try adding caffeinated gum to one of these healthy options.

Choose Healthy Snacks

What you eat matters. Eating healthy is important for all of us in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, not just athletes. Choosing healthy snacks whether it be cheese slices with whole wheat crackers or sliced apples with peanut butter plays an important role in combating the sluggishness and fatigue caused by poor nutrition. The saying that food is our body’s fuel is true as what we eat either positively or negatively impacts how we perform. Whether you keep healthy snacks in your desk or choose ones from a vending machine, make healthy selections to see the most benefit.

Drink Water

Our bodies are made of multiple systems that rely on water to be able to function correctly. Unfortunately, most of us don’t drink nearly enough to make up for the water that we lose every day, which can lead to dehydration. Side effects of dehydration include lack of energy and fatigue. To combat dehydration, the Mayo Clinic recommends that men drink about 13 cups or 3 liters of beverages per day, and women drink about 9 cups or 2.2 liters per day. Water and other non-sugary beverages can be found in your office vending machine or healthy breakroom.

Healthy Alternative Snack Tulsa and Oklahoma City

Go for a Walk

Movement is a great way to increase energy levels and improve focus. It could be going for a walk in one of Tulsa and Oklahoma City’s neighborhoods or doing jumping jacks at your desk. As long as your blood flow increases and you breathe a bit faster, you should see benefits. Exercise is also great for stress relief. When we decrease our stress level, our mood often improves and we feel more motivated to accomplish our to-do lists. Whether you exercise with a friend or on your own, get moving.

Have Some Caffeine

Most often when we need a boost of energy, we gravitate toward coffee or other caffeinated beverages. There are times, however, when consuming caffeine in a beverage is not an option.  For example, you might not have a cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage nearby or you may not enough time to drink an entire beverage. Caffeinated gum has an additional benefit that caffeinated beverages do not. The caffeine from caffeinated gum bypasses the digestive system and goes straight into your system, so you feel the effect of the caffeine faster.

Eating healthy snacks, drinking water and exercising all contribute to increased energy throughout the day at the office. Caffeinated gum offers the extra pick me up that we all sometimes need. Would your Tulsa and Oklahoma City consumers like to see caffeinated gum as a healthy snack in their vending machines or healthybreak room? Contact Blue Sky Supply today at 918-599-9100.

Food Vending Service Tulsa and Oklahoma City

Missing Breakfast is a Significant Problem for Tulsa and Oklahoma City Employees

Food Vending Service Tulsa and Oklahoma CityYou’ve heard the famous saying: “Breakfast is the healthiest meal of the day.” But is that really true? Is it really that bad if you skip breakfast? You might be telling yourself, “who has the time to make eggs and toast with avocado on top?” In reality, there are many serious risks to skipping breakfast, ranging from your mood to obesity. Some even claim it can threaten your life to put off having a breakfast. Sacrificing ten minutes of sleep for a hearty breakfast is well worth your time for several reasons.

Moody

Skipping breakfast makes you more moody than necessary. According to a 2002 BBC News World Edition article, a moody temperament was improved if they ate breakfast. Furthermore, 26% of people had a large change in temperament by changing their diet. This included making breakfast a daily meal. Elizabeth Somer, author of Eat Your Way to Happiness, she admitted to being a “breakfast avoider for many years,” especially while working full time. When she stopped working full time, people said she would “gain tons of weight.” But she proved them wrong by making sure she ate a “sane breakfast and a light lunch,” which led to actually losing 30 pounds. Losing weight and having more energy makes her “a much happier human being.” Her changes can be implemented, even as a full time employee with enough effort.

Slowed metabolism

 

Food Vending Service Tulsa and Oklahoma CityBy skipping breakfast, you might be increasing your risk of obesity. In addition, losing weight may be harder for you, simply because you are skipping breakfast. There are many benefits to eating breakfast. For example, you are less likely to overeat by making breakfast a priority in your day. It also quickens your metabolism and increases your energy throughout the day. This makes sense because when you are sleeping, you are fasting. “Prolonged fasting,” Leah Cahill warns, “leads to increases in diastolic and systolic blood pressure, blood concentrations of insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acids and LDL-cholesterol, and to decreases in concentrations of HDL-cholesterol.” In an attempt to correct this, you are more likely to make unhealthy choices as your cravings, leading to obesity. Of course, obesity comes with a slew of problems, such as infertility. Fasting for extended periods of time can be stressful on your body – even life-threatening. Clearly, breakfast is worth implementing into your daily life.

Menstrual Irregularities

College students are guilty of skipping breakfast in exchange for a few more minutes of sleep. This certainly can apply to many adults in the workforce, who may work late nights and have early mornings. Female students who skipped breakfast, according to a 2010 survey study by “Appetite,” had more menstrual irregularities than those who ate breakfast. Pain, irregularity, and even constipation was heightened by choosing to forgo breakfast.

Heart Problems

This is accompanied with a slower metabolism. But the problem is quite serious, apparently, according to a Harvard study evaluating eating habits and its influence for coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. In a group of 27,000 male healthcare professionals, they evaluated their lifestyle choices (such as skipping breakfast) and their health over 16 years. They were 45-82 years old at the beginning of the study. During the 16 years, 1527 CHD cases were diagnosed. In fact, men who skipped breakfast had a 27% higher risk of CHD than those who did not skip breakfast.

Slower Cognitive Development

In a Centers for Disease Control report, they found that children skipping breakfast had more trouble problem-solving. Students who ate breakfast, however, tested higher in standardized tests, missed less school, and were timelier to classes. This does not apply exclusively to children, though. As an adult, your body needs the energy to work effectively. Skipping breakfast is like going on a trip without a suitcase – it is a lot harder. While many see the problem with unhealthy food, the significance of eating healthy food may prove to be just as important.

What do you think? Do you focus better by having breakfast? Do you notice a difference? The results seem to indicate a strong case for eating breakfast. While it’s an easy meal to skip, especially in the beginning of the day, your mind and body will thank you later for taking the extra time for breakfast.

If you are looking for breakfast options for your Tulsa and Oklahoma City breakroom, call Blue Sky Supply at (918) 599-9100 for a free, no obligation consultation.