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Vending Machine Blues? How To Beat That 4 P.M. Slump

We are powering away at work, getting things done, and all of a sudden it hits us. Somewhere around 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon we slide into a slump. We need an energy boost. We all have experienced it, and to perk us back up we look to the vending machines that are filled with processed products that have a shelf life longer than our life. That's scary.


Chris Mittelstaedt
(Photo courtesy of The Fruit Guys)

We have made the commitment with the beginning of the year to eat healthy, exercise and to take care of ourselves. But work demands that we stretch beyond the limits of our lunch and we hear the calling of something sugary from the vending machine that will undo all of the progress from our workout sessions.

Chris Mittelstaedt, founder and CEO of The Fruit Guys, has been delivering fresh fruit to workplaces all over the country and has some great tips on how to beat the late afternoon slump and avoid the unhealthy options at the vending machines.

 

Stay Away From The Processed Foods And Candy

"Food is such a complex topic in the United States in terms of what people think is right and wrong, and it doesn't have to be that complicated. Remove the judgment. We are not here to make people feel bad. We want to help people feel good by offering them something that is good for them," said Mittelstaedt.  Eating fruit is a great way to satisfy an afternoon sweet tooth or energy slump.

 

Enjoy Natural Snacks

"We want to give people an easy way to snack healthy and created domestically-produced unique items that are healthy, like our rainbow raisins, which include a variety of table grapes that are cut off the vine by hand and dried," said Mittelstaedt. The new 20-pack, one-ounce bags are designed for the office and displayed in a self-dispenser caddy. "I think it is important to be inclusive. There is a level and interest in food when you're eating something that is natural."

 

Use Visualization Techniques

"If you image yourself eating healthy — eating the most delicious apple and the enjoyment and the energy it brings — you will help condition yourself over time. These visualization techniques are helpful reinforcement of positive habits. Recognizing the urge without judgment is a gentle way to move you to better health without the good and evil battle about health. This creates healthy change in the long term," said Mittelstaedt.

 

Eat Your Fruits And Veggies

One also cannot go wrong with increasing their intake of dark leafy greens, vegetables and fruit to stave off that 4 p.m. slump. Dr. Michael Greger, a graduate of Cornell University School of Agriculture and Tufts University School of Medicine who is also the founder of www.NutritionFacts.org, said, ""We need to consume more fruits and vegetables. The World Health Organization blames literally millions of deaths every year to inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. We should be eating fruits and vegetables as if our lives depended on them because, in a way, they do." Recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake daily is now nine servings a day, with a serving size at a 1/2 cup. Making sure you hit that number daily will reduce the 4 p.m. sugary cravings and have a positive impact on overall health.

 

This article was written by Robin D. Everson of Examiner.com for CBS Local.

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