5 healthy lunch tips for hard-working tradies

A lot of tradies have a bad reputation when it comes to diet. Think about the last time you were at the shops and you saw a bunch of tradies roll in for their lunch-time break. They were probably heading straight for the local fast-food joint: McDonalds, KFC, a kebab store or the closest bakery for a meat pie and a Coke. However, given the vast amount of information we now have on the importance of eating healthy, more and more tradies are tossing out their bad eating habits for a healthier lifestyle. We all know it can be hard, however, if you are a tradie desperately looking for a way to live by a healthier diet, here are several tips to help you along the way.

Known as the “swap” diet, this regime is founded on the idea that you should be swapping poor meals for better ones. For example, you could easily swap a meat pie for something a little healthier, like these cheesy bean enchiladas. Think of it this way, you’re still getting your pastry kick, but you’re getting it via a healthier method. Bake these the night before (cooking time is only 35 minutes) and throw in some veggies to amp up the health factor: carrot, zucchini and spinach. Not only are these fritters a delicious, healthy option but they will save you money (think about not having to spend $10-15 a day for lunch!).

If you make yourself a sandwich or a roll, it’s important to add a nice piece of fresh fruit to it. If you make yourself a ham sandwich or a beef roll, be sure to add an apple, pear or a banana. If you get hungry during the day, then you’ve got a healthy, nutritious snack to get you through those last few back-breaking hours.

If you’re making a ham and cheese sandwich, try throwing some vegetables on the bread. Instead of extra cheese, throw some spinach leaves or lettuce on there. When you’re starving for a feed, you’ll barely taste the greens (if you’re not a fan of the taste of vegetables). If you want to save even more money, consider starting your own organic veggie patch in your own backyard, which you can add to your daily lunch meals!

We all love a juicy meat pie with tomato sauce; however, there is a time and a place for a meal like that. Having that everyday won’t be good for the waistline. If you have spent the day laying pool pavers, then there is no doubt that you’re probably starving. However, it is important that you try to avoid excessively using condiments on your meals – tomato sauce, barbecue sauce and mayonnaise are a couple of examples. Whilst they may taste delicious (we know they do), they are often full of preservatives, sugar and other salts. It might seem rather innocuous but cutting down on your condiments could go a long-way in leading a healthier lifestyle.

The Western diet certainly loves its bread. In a country like Australia, the most bread-heavy meals like sandwiches and burgers are generally the most popular. Now, if you’re a tradie who is willing to give up the bread (say goodbye to sandwiches and burgers), then switching to rice as your carbohydrate option brings a wide range of benefits. Brown rice contains a lot of fibre, magnesium and a bunch of other vitamins. Moreover, it’s quite a filling option, meaning there is less chance that you will overeat throughout the working day.