The greatest wealth is health, right? We all know that without our amazing, resilient, surprising bodies to support us, we’d have nothing. However, this is something that us busy, ambitious Londoners sometimes forget. What with the perils of a stressful workload and daily battles through the stifling tunnels of the underground, it’s no wonder people living in London don’t manage to give their bodies the TLC they need.
Here at The Urban Kitchen HQ we’re on a mission to help Londoners stay healthy no matter what their schedule – that’s why we’ve put together 5 healthy life hacks for busy Londoners. Enjoy!
Shun the bus and tube and use manpower instead
1. Travel to work by man/woman power.
Run, walk, cycle, skate, skip… No matter how you travel to work just do it under your own steam. You’ll feel immediately better when you see other commuters emerging hot and miserable from below ground and what’s more, your body (and your bank balance) will reap the rewards. If you live within a few miles of your work, you may even get home faster!
2. Turn boozy client lunches into a chance to sample London’s healthy gastronomy.
It’s tempting when you’re trying to impress a client to take them to a decadent gastro pub or restaurant and throw the company credit card at the wine list. Why not consider taking them to a healthy eatery instead and indulging in some brain foods that will make your meeting more productive. You could even order in some delicious nutritious sharing platters from us folks at The Urban Kitchen, with not a sandwich in sight.
3. Plan your meals in advance.
Ever found yourself resorting to rushing into a coffee shop a few minutes from your work on a morning or lunch time and grabbing the first carb-laden pastry or sandwich in sight? Eating on the go can be tricky in London and with the multitude of convenient eateries on offer, it can still be hard to grab a quick and truly healthy lunch. Plan out your meals at the start of each week, keep nutritious snacks like nuts and fruit in your bag or at your desk and banish the BLT forever.
Keep dried fruit and nuts in your bag or at your desk to ensure you don’t reach for that chocolate bar…
4. Make the most of London’s extra-curricular activities
You can’t walk for ten minutes in London without passing some new bar or restaurant to try out, but did you know the same goes for fun, healthy social activities? Food markets and festivals, unusual fitness classes, state of the art health clubs, beautiful canal side walks, outdoor swimming, art exhibitions, parks to frolic in… London is a playground so get out there and discover it.
5. Eat smart and tailor your diet to your specific needs
Every body is different and needs different macro and micro nutrients to keep it working to its optimum efficiency. How active you are and what your day demands of you requires you to eat certain foods. If your stressful work life leaves you sleepless, you can even eat specific foods to help you get the sleep you need and wake up feeling refreshed rather than sluggish and tired.
I couldn’t agree more with walking around London! When I first moved there in 2012, they were handing out little maps how to get around London during the olympics – well, I still have them and use them!
Even though it might not be very pleasant, I try to walk in all kinds of weather, it was the best thing I could do for my immune system. It’s hard to stay healthy, but it’s not impossible if you try.