When you work in the food service industry, food is the number one focus. You cook it, smell it, and have access to it all day long. And that can make winning the game of weight loss a losing battle.

But put that spatula down because there’s good news!

You don’t have to let food rule your waistline when you have a few tricks up your sleeves. Let’s look at ways you can follow a chef’s diet like a pro.

Bring Your Own Lunch

Working in the food service industry means having access to a lot of free food. But most of the time, it’s food you shouldn’t be eating.

A secret of a skinny chef is to skip the temptation altogether and bring your lunch from home. That way you have total control over what you’re putting into your body.

You can meal-prep on a day off to make grabbing lunch on your way out the door that much easier.

Eat Before You Go to Work

Anybody on a chef’s diet knows that managing your hunger is key. Because when you’re hungry, you’ll grab anything and everything within reach.

That’s why you should always eat a good meal before you head out the door. And make sure it’s full of protein and healthy carbs. This keeps your hunger in check, and your energy up, throughout the day.

Find Ways to Workout at Work

Squeezing in a workout during a long shift is easy… if you get creative.

Walk the long way to the kitchen, taking the stairs when you can. Lift some boxes in the storage room during a break. Or use the hinged iron pizza oven doors as a weight machine.

There’s a lot of things you can do to boost your exercise. All you have to do is look around to see what’s available. And the best part is, it works for any schedule or shift.

Keep the H2O Handy

Think of water being your chef’s diet best friend. Because it helps you in more ways than one!

It controls your hunger by leaving you feeling full. Fill up on water before eating a meal or to replace snacking. It significantly decreases the number of calories you take in.

Plus, it keeps you hydrated AND helps increase your metabolism. A study found that drinking about 17 ounces of water boosts metabolic rate by 30 percent within 10 minutes of drinking.

Schedule Your Workouts

Don’t leave your workouts to chance. Telling yourself “I’ll get to it when I can” will only set your weight loss up for failure.

Schedule your workouts around your shifts. There are gyms open 24 hours a day to accommodate any work schedule. Or workout at home for added convenience.

Either way, when you wake up knowing you have a workout scheduled that day, you will be much more likely to stick with it.

Keep Your Favorite Healthy Snacks Within Reach

It’s super easy to grab a few French fries as you’re walking by. Or pop in a couple cookies off the dessert tray. But a simple snack here and there quickly adds up… on your waistline.

Instead, keep some of your favorite healthy snacks within reach. Grabbing a handful of trail mix or spicy chickpeas will keep your fat, sugar, and calorie intake down. Not to mention give you a boost of energy to get through the dinner shift.

You Can Be a Master of the Kitchen and a Chef’s Diet

Show that food prep line who’s boss. Following these tips will give you a 5-star chef’s diet experience!

Need some fun workout inspiration? Check out these 8 weight loss exercises to get you moving!