Healthy Eating Tips for Workaholic Entrepreneurs

We get it: you don’t always want to act like a workaholic, but sometimes being an entrepreneur requires you to toil long hours.

When your friends and family members are plopped down on the couch enjoying Netflix, you’re responding to emails, researching new marketing strategies, and pursuing new business partnerships.

If you’re struggling with the day-to-day realities of being a functioning workaholic, would you believe that food may be the problem? Believe it or not, our blood sugar can actually have a huge impact on our energy levels, feelings of depression, and even our decision-making abilities.

To support that workaholic lifestyle, you’ll need to fuel your body appropriately. Whether you prepare your meals ahead of time or enlist the help of a grocery or meal delivery service, you need to eat well in order to maintain your energy levels and stay healthy, so your business can thrive.

In this article, we share our favorite workaholic tips to get you eating healthier, feeling better, and thinking more clearly for the challenges to come.

Carry a Healthy and Filling Snack

Busy entrepreneurs know that sometimes you simply don’t have time to eat a meal, even when you would like to have a lunch break. If you find your attention slipping, it may be because you need to get a handle on your glycemic index.

Occasionally, a meeting lasts longer than anticipated — which is often the case, especially with recurring meetings. Or a business emergency takes priority. For those times, you don’t want to be “hangry,” and keeping a snack on you at all times can be a true lifesaver.

Trail mix and protein bars are not only full of healthy nutrients, but they also pack well and have a long shelf life. In addition, they’re generally not messy to eat, so you won’t risk getting stains on your clothing when you’re on the go.

When shopping for the best trail mixes and protein bars, a great workaholic tip is to look for options that don’t have a lot of added sugar or artificial ingredients. Choose flavors that actually pique your interest, so eating these snacks will be a pleasant and welcome treat rather than a chore.

Fuel up with Healthy Fats

Do you often suffer from a mid-afternoon slump when you’re on deadline? Do you find those morning donuts and orange juice just cause you to crash even harder after their initial boost?

Sugar and caffeine offer only temporary energy. To combat your fatigue and stay focused, you may need to incorporate more healthy fats into your diet, which can also promote brain function and protect against dry eye disease (especially helpful if you look at screens all day). There’s even plenty of evidence that eating more fat may actually lead to long-term weight loss and weight control, which certainly can’t hurt.

Of course, not all fats are created equal. Generally, it’s smart to avoid or limit saturated and trans fats, which come with their own set of health concerns when consumed in large quantities.

Some of the best sources of healthy fats include avocados, peanut butter, chia seeds, olives, olive oil, fatty fish, tofu, and nuts from that trail mix in your bag.

If you ever needed an excuse to eat more guacamole, here it is!

Prepare Grab-and-Go Breakfasts Ahead of Time

Like it or not, breakfast is still the most important meal of the day! If you’re skipping breakfast, you could be missing out on important nutrients and setting yourself up for a serious workday slump or sugar binge.

Do you feel that making breakfast, especially when you’re in a rush, is too much of a chore? A good workaholic tip is to set aside one day every week to prepare some healthy grab-and-go breakfast items that will keep you nourished. Some ideas include a basic frittata that you cook in a muffin pan, a breakfast casserole that you can slice and heat throughout the week, smoothies, energy bars, chia seed pudding, and overnight oats.

Or, if you love gadgets and don’t mind spending a little money, you could always look into automated breakfast-making machines. We truly live in a golden age.

Try These Workaholic Tips for Healthy Eating

Sometimes, it’s the body that controls the mind, so be sure to give your body everything it needs to maximize energy and minimize fatigue and distractions. This goes for your employees too. Reimbursing or covering things like snacks and small meals could help everyone’s productivity in the long run and pay real dividends that the business can reap.

Trust us: when you’re not thinking about food or feeling hungry and tired, you can spend more time focused on your business. And this will ensure you get home feeling productive, satisfied, and less likely to feel the need to get more work done during your relaxation time.