A recent study concluded that eating unhealthily is linked to a 66% increase in risk of loss of productivity – in other words, those lunch-time supermarket meal deals could be costing you more than you thought.
We round up some of the tastiest brain food treat, which can be delivered straight to your desk:
The Good Life Salad, £11.00: The Good Life Eatery, Chelsea
Go for a kale-heavy salad, like the one above, to help keep your cognitive brainpower in check. Kale’s packed to the rafters with brain-boosting Vitamin K: eat it and watch those spreadsheets practically do themselves.
Poncho de Palta, £7.00: Andina, Shoreditch
As well as being delicious, avocado is high in oleic acid, which helps to build your brain’s ‘white matter’, or myelin, meaning that you can process information (no matter how interesting) at higher speeds. Andina’s Poncho de Palta dish (above) also contains amaranth, a superfood packed with protein & iron.
Beef & Aubergine Bowl, £7.90: Hummus Bros, St Pauls
Magnesium is a winner for helping your body metabolise energy, keeping you balanced throughout the day. Unfortunately, your body’s magnesium count is sapped by stress, which, as we all know, is hardly a rare occurrence in the workplace. Chickpeas are chock-full of magnesium, though, so if you’re looking to stress-proof your body, reach for some sweet, sweet hummus. Hummus Bros in St. Paul’s offers a wide variety of the stuff.
Assorted Sashimi, £14.00: Matsuri, St James’s
Oily fish, like salmon, is high in Omega 3 fatty acids which, as well as reducing the risk of cardiovasular disease and contributing to a lower blood pressure, have been linked to better memory. Get your fill of salmon at lunchtime with some high-quality sashimi, and you could soon be wow-ing your colleagues with new-found brain-bending skills.
Beef Char Kway Teow, £12.40: The Noodle House, Soho
If your body clock tends to send you into a meat frenzy come lunch-time, you’ll be pleased to hear that red meat – not too much, mind you – can actually do you some good. Red meat is a natural source of creatine, which distributes energy in your body, and is high in Vitamin B12, important for keeping your brain healthy and happy. Make sure it’s the right kind of meat, though – a bacon double cheeseburger is more likely to make you fancy a power-nap than to keep you feeling alert.
Want it delivered, fast?
It only costs an extra £2.50 to get proper restaurant food delivered straight to your desk in 32 minutes through Deliveroo; you never know, the quickest route to a pay-rise could be through your stomach.