Clocking In, Eating To Death, And Burning Out: The Barbadian Workday Problem

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There is a loud silence to the health crisis in Barbados.

It plays under the beats of soca that filter through Bridgetown’s crowded streets on a work Monday. It is in the hushed, gossiped and clipped tones across phone calls and Whatsapp voicenotes. If you were to ask the average Barbadian if they ate something healthy within the last week what would their answer be? The last two weeks? The last month?

The 9-5 work culture is a prison unto itself. One that precludes the ability of Barbadians to escape its narrow confines to gorge on something that may be actually worth their while.

A typical working day in Barbados looks like this:

  • Wake up early
  • Skip breakfast or grab something processed
  • Sit at a desk for 6–8 hours
  • High stress, deadlines, financial pressure
  • Quick lunch — often high salt, high carbs, fried
  • Too tired to cook at night
  • Drive thrus and fast food the only viable option.

This trend moves from something we do occasionally on the days when things get too busy to perhaps every other day, to almost every single day, 7 days a week. A cycle of bad choices compounding on themselves.

The constant consumption of foods high in fats, high in carbohydrates, high in sodium and high in sugars paired with the ever growing sedentary lifestyle of many Bajans is a formula for disaster.

That disaster looks like the rising rates of hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

Do you have high-blood pressure?

Are you physically and mentally taxed no matter what after every workday?

Are you burnt out?

These questions strike at the heart of the Barbadian workday problem. But the more pertinent question that no one is asking why?

Why?

Diet is a crucial part of building the foundations for a “healthy-moving” person, which is the loose concept of someone who is leading a holistically healthy lifestyle. When we neglect this basic foundation, many other things come crashing down.

There needs to be more intentionality with which Barbadians attack and tackle their health.

Time is expensive. But so is poor health.

Carving out time to prepare your meals — to understand the nutrition your body requires — may feel inconvenient today, but it could be the decision that protects your blood pressure, your blood sugar, and your children’s future.There are many ways to do it.

You can use a meal prep service.

You can shop exclusively for whole foods.

You can cook every Sunday for the week ahead.

The method is flexible.The intention is not.

What must change is our relationship with food. It cannot remain accidental. For your future health is being decided by today’s lunch.