Junk Food Al-Desko

Sweet-toothed workers munch their way through more than 2,000 snacks 'al desko' every year, according to a new survey.
 
While tapping away at their computers, Brits will scoff hundreds of chocolate bars, biscuits, cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks. This equates to an astonishing 94,117 snacks over the average working lifetime of 44.5 years.
 
The poll of 3,000 office workers, conducted by premium discounter, Aldi, revealed that busy folk are increasingly opting for quick and easy snacks to get them through the day.
 
Instead of enjoying a hearty breakfast before they leave home, workers opt to have a quick bowl of cereal at their desks 151 days out of the 240 worked each year.
 
The average person will eat 158 chocolate bars, 204 biscuits and 180 packets of crisps across 48 weeks, Monday to Friday.
 
They will also guzzle 192 sweets, 131 cakes, donuts or pastries, and 274 cereal or biscuit bars.
 
The average person also sups on 170 fizzy drinks and 428 cups of tea or coffee a year.
 
And Brits will wolf down 128 instant snacks such as instant noodles or cups of soup, and 117 savoury snacks such as pretzels, popcorn or cheese straws.
 
The Yogurts Buyer from Aldi said: "As lifestyles are getting busier, eating habits are getting worse.
 
"The trend for quick and easy snacks is growing but people must consider their options carefully as they can seriously affect their health.
 
"For example choosing a nutritious but easy option such as Aldi's Optifit Liquid Breakfast workers can satisfy snacking urges taking them right through to lunch.
 
"Simple changes to snacking habits, such as eating a yogurt a day can have a number of health benefits, everything from helping prevent osteoporosis to reducing the risk of high blood pressure.
 
"In addition it is proven that clever snacking on yogurts can actually help you to feel fuller therefore reducing the urge to over-snack.
 
"Also, workers must be mindful on the drawbacks to eating "al desko". Eating at your desk encourages mindless eating, and overeating as workers are most likely multitasking and not paying attention to the amount of food they're eating."
 
Six out of 10 people polled say they rarely leave their desks during the day, so this is the place where they do all of their eating.
 
A third of people said they prefer to snack all day rather than sit down to a healthy lunch.
 
And each week they will make two trips to the local café, two trips to the vending machine, two trips to the local shop and three trips to the kitchen - all to stock up on snacks.
 
The Yogurts Buyer from Aldi continued: "Snacking is not something that can be prevented, but it is essential that people consider what they are actually putting into their bodies.
 
"Choosing healthier snacks and taking time away from desks to eat can actually have considerable health benefits.
 
"Employers should be urged to ensure that staff are given enough time to enjoy lunch away from their desks."
 
 
 
SNACKS CONSUMED PER YEAR PER PERSON
 
Chocolate bars                          158
Biscuits                                                204
Fizzy drinks                              170
Crisps                                       180
Cakes, donuts and pastries            131
Sweets                                     192
Cereal bars                                151
Biscuit bars                               123
Bowls of cereal                          133
Instant snacks                           128
Savoury snacks                         117
Tea and coffee                           428