Todays headline in the UK news: “Bringing cake into the office as harmful as passive smoking”. It has been suggested that there should be a ban on office cake for the sake of people’s health.

Now I agree that being in an environment where you are surrounded by cakes and sweet foods can make you eat more of them. I totally disagree with the idea of these foods being banned. For many people, the moment a food is seen as off limits, the more it is craved. Which can then lead to going overboard at a later time. Cake is definitely a food that can be enjoyed within the context of a well balanced diet. That doesn’t necessarily mean you eat a large slice each day, but it does mean you can join in with the social aspect at some point in the week.

I shared this reel on instagram and had some wonderful comments talking about how baking for colleagues brings pleasure. For example, how a slice of cake in the week at work can be a real highlight. Or how it can be a moment that you talk to colleagues about non work things.

Cake is definitely something we can all enjoy, with some common sense nutrition applied:

Why not set a cake date with your office crew. Decide which day and then all enjoy it together. Try rating the cake in terms of taste for a fun way of eating a little more mindfully.

Take some fruit to go with the cake, then everyone can add some balance to their snack and have a smaller slice.

Place the cakes away from the working environment, maybe in the kitchen or a shared space so they aren’t in your eyeline.

Remember that food is more than just nutrition, it is pleasure, community, socialisation, fun. If you are eating a well balanced diet the rest of the time there is no reason you cannot enjoy that slice of cake.

The post Is office cake as harmful as passive smoking? first appeared on Dietitian UK.

The post Is office cake as harmful as passive smoking? appeared first on Dietitian UK.