Now let’s be honest here, when was the last time that you had a fast food meal at work? Because the reality for most shift workers is that it forms a huge part of their diet every single day, which is pretty scary stuff.

Like millions of other people around the world, shift workers form part of the growing legions of fans who flock to the ‘Fast Food Fan Club’ because that’s exactly what they are – fast!

And ‘fast’ they might be, but they certainly lose credibility when it comes to being healthy.

You see most people eat fast food because they’re suffering from constant fatigue and tiredness, and are basically too tired to cook. But when you actually eat fast food, it ends up making you even more tired so you are on this constant treadmill of feeling tired and exhausted.

Sounding familiar?

Well let me share some facts with you that might scare you off eating so much fast food.

1. $120+ billion is spent every year on fast food today, compared to $6 billion in 1970.

2. 30% of children’s meals consist of fast food.

3. Large portions, value meals, and super sizing create serving sizes that are double and triple the recommended daily allowance.

4. Every time you eat fast food, you significantly increase your carbohydrate and fat intake as well as the calories that you eat.

So how does one get off the ‘fast food treadmill’?

By getting more organized. Plan your meals ahead of time so that you know what you’re going to have to eat for the entire week, that way there’s no “what am I going to have for dinner?” scenarios taking place.

Make the transition gradually by switching just one fast food meal per week into a more healthier alternative.

On days when you do eat fast food, ask for the smaller size.

Never super size your meal! The price and value may be tempting, but it’s your health that ends up paying the greatest price.

Pack your healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner (depending on your shifts) the night before, that way your meal is already planned and there will be no reason for you to go anywhere near a fast food outlet.

So start getting organised and plan your healthy meals in advance. If you’re serious about wanting to improve your health and beat fatigue whilst working shift work – then you need to give fast food the flick.

Fast food may save you minutes in your day, but it’s taking years off your life!

Interestingly enough, most fast food chains don’t advertise that on their “value” menu …

Now as shift workers, one of the things that so many of us become addicted to is processed foods. We’re always in search of the quickest and easiest thing to eat because quite frankly, we’re so tired most of the time that we really can’t be bothered to cook anything properly.

Sounding familiar?

So what I’m about to share with you might shock you enough into reducing your consumption of processed foods, and start eating much more nutritious and high energy foods instead.

You see, whenever foods actually undergo processing, you are essentially changing the original content and the amount of nutrients that are found in these foods. Most pre-packaged, plastic wrapped or microwaveable foods have gone through a multitude of processes before they end up on the supermarket shelf.

These foods have little or no nutritional value.

The scary thing is that the food industry allows more than 3000 food additives to be used in the processing of food. And just because many of these additives and chemicals used in the processing of our foods are deemed safe, it does not mean that they are.

So things like chemicals, food additives, sweeteners, artificial flavours, colouring agents, dyes, preservatives, acids, and even bleaching agents are ending up inside our bodies via these easy-to-prepare packaged foods.

So the next time you come home from work and you reach for a ready made packaged meal or a tin of something – read the label first (I’ll talk more about food labelling in another post), and find out exactly what’s inside it, or even better – eat something that hasn’t been cooked, boiled, stewed, or microwaved to death!

Now I also suggest that you take a good hard look inside your fridge and pantry. The bottom of your fridge should be overflowing with fresh produce, and your pantry should not be stocked full of crisps, biscuits and crackers. Slowly start introducing more and more raw foods into your diet and reduce the amount of processed foods that you buy.

Because if it’s not in your shopping trolley, then it’s not going to make it into your fridge or pantry which will eliminate all temptation!

So as a shift worker I want to remind you that it’s incredibly easy not to look after yourself and eat the wrong foods. I know because I did that myself for many, many years!

Instead, give your body high performance fuel that is going to help improve your energy levels and boost your immune system – something that most shift workers are so desperately in search of.

And next time you’re out shopping, choose unprocessed foods which have no added chemicals or other additives. Foods that are essentially in their original state – the way nature grew it and intended it to be!

P.S – If you want to learn more about eating properly and looking after yourself, a book that I absolutely love is called – You Are What You Eat, by Dr Gillian McKeith. The title of the book says it all – Enjoy!