Low Protein in the Workplace
Workplaces can be difficult places to be at times, whether it’s an office environment, hospitality, or retail. Add a low protein diet into the mix and it can add further complications. In this blog we’re going to hear from Mark Edwards and discover some of the challenges he has overcome in his various workplaces as well as sharing some tips from people within the low protein community, parents and carers of people following low protein diets, and give some insight from industries perspective.
“I received some comments from colleagues which resulted in me feeling put off from eating and drinking around my colleagues. This led to me eating my LP foods and taking my protein substitutes in my car. I overcame this by opening-up to my managers & colleagues and giving them some insight into my metabolic condition. Since sharing information about my diet and metabolic condition my managers and the company have been much more understanding of my condition. Examples of which would-be the management structure in my company being more understanding of my needs for time off to attend conferences, clinics and doctors’ appointments and a restructure of my break patterns to allow me to take my protein substitute at specific times most suited to my diet.
When a new manager was brought into the company, I had to re-explain my condition and dietary requirements, unfortunately this wasn’t as successful as before and I felt the new manager wasn’t sympathetic to my situation. Thankfully, I had the NSPKU to lean on to support me through this. The NSPKU provided an official letter to the company HR department to support my case. Since this intervention from the NSPKU I feel very much supported by my company, just before Christmas I received an email asking about my dietary requirements for the company Christmas lunch and my company ordered in some Christmas treats from the Promin web-shop.”
Top Tips
- Be open and honest with your companies HR dept, managers or supervisors about your condition, as well as your trusted colleagues
- Share links from registered charities such as NSPKU, PKUAI, ESPKU and NPKUA with your HR dept to help them have greater understanding of the challenges low protein diets bring
- If you need to, don’t hesitate to contact your local support groups such as NSPKU, PKUAI, ESPKU and NPKUA (https://www.nspku.org/ | http://pku.ie/ | https://www.espku.org/ | www.npkua.org)
- Stock up on low protein snacks and instant meals to keep at your workplace
- Meal-Prep your meals to take into work with you.
- Get yourself a good food flask to keep your preheated food warm if you don’t have access to cooking facilities.
- Realistically, meal prep isn’t always an option, so get to know the low protein options available at your local supermarkets and restaurants.
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