CentreO Blog

We all like to munch on something at the office. Unfortunately, with the time limitations and lack of planning, we may often wind up opting for quicker less healthier options. How to prevent that? Simply plan ahead and take a look at our list of healthy office snacks:

–       Whole Wheat Crackers and Peanut Butter (the sweet one)

Try multigrain crackers for a good source of fiber and additive-free peanut butter for your source of protein.

-Fruit (the obvious one)

Try to grab a different fruit every time you pack for the office. That will keep your diet varied and you vitamin intake full. Top that off with a glass of milk or yoghurt for an easy-to-make fruit salad.

–       Popcorn with Parmesan (the unexpected one)

Get unsalted popcorn with no additives and add 2 tablespoons of shredded parmesan. This makes for a tasty snack with only 150 calories.

–       Nuts (the crunchy one)

Nuts are a natural source of vitamin E, magnesium and potassium and are rich in

Protein and fiber.  They are also a good ay to get heart-healthy fats. However, they are also calorically dense, so measure out a small bag per day (about 24 nuts) and keep within limits.

–       Instant oatmeal (the nutritious one)

We are used to associating anything that comes with the word “instant” as unhealthy. However, this is not the case. Just choose plain oatmeal and add your own flavourings to control the sugar

–       mini-pitas with hummus (the exotic one)

Hummus can supply you with natural hormones, as well as vitamin C, B6 and iron. Put in into a mini-pita and enjoy the soft nutty taste with zero guilt.

–       vegetables with Ranch sauce (the fresh one)

Raw vegetables help you feel full quickly because of their high water and fiber content. Ranch dressing (salsa/yoghurt) make the snack a delicious experience.

We are happy to report that the Investment Visa Talk by Stephen Barnes was held successfully on Dec 13^th.

The event was started off with the speech of Dr. Yeung, the president of HKICP.

Stephen went on to introduce the audience to process of applying for an investment visa in Hong Kong, focusing on eligibility, application proceedings and appeals. He also touched upon the process of getting dependent visas for family members and most importantly – how to do all of that and more without professional help.

The Q&A section at the end allowed the guests to ask additional questions regarding their personal visa stories and as usual, this section of the talk was a cause of most excitement.

 

 

 

Coffee is one of the most (if not simply the most) popular morning drinks in the world. A lot of us can not even imagine starting our day without it.  And with today’s array of drinks, it is more than easy to chose something to your liking. So we’ve decided to round up  some of the most popular choices with their pros and cons.

Espresso – a concise and proud drink, a true choice of connoisseurs and those looking for a quick memorable boost. This small cup is full of strong bitter flavour and caffeine magic.

Latte – lots of milk, not too much coffee. A great introductory drink and a big favourite with the ladies, non-coffee drinkers and the warm milk crowd.

Cappuccino – the definite classic of the coffee world. It features a great combination of espresso, steamed milk and foam. The first sip is softened by the gentle foam and soothing warmth of steamed milk – and then comes the coffee)

Mocha:  In this drink you have all you may ever need: chocolate, coffee, sugar, milk. Most importantly – chocolate. The signature bitter-sweet taste is addictive to say the least. Great choice for those of us who have a sweet tooth but feel too guilty about starting the morning with a cupcake.

Espresso Macchiato: It is still an espresso, but rounded off by a little bit of milk. Macchiato means “marked” and as the name  suggests the dollop of foam marks the surface.

So which drink is the best to start off your morning?

If you are a fan of milky coffees – these are the ones that are better consumed in the morning and may be too heavy for later in the day.

Espresso is great at any time when you need feel that you need more energy. But do try to limit yourself to 2 (max 3) cups a day.

Sweetened drinks (like mocha) are also better suited for the morning time, as it gives you more time to burn off those calories. But their light caffeine content also makes them a possible choice for other times of day.

 

 

Remember how in one of our blogs we mentioned that if you want to change an employer in Hong Kong, you will need to change your visa sponsorship? We would now like to go back to that in more details.

Once again: if you have left your current employer or planning to do so, you need to undergo a change of sponsorship application.

If you are seeking to work for another employer, you have to pass the employment visa approvability test.

If you are seeking to work for yourself – or in partnership with someone else – you have to pass the investment visa approvability test.

Take a look at the complete step-by-step instructions on doing this here.

To start your application you have to submit your application on the 5^th floor residents section of Immigration Tower with the correct application forms and expect the process to take between 4 to 8 weeks to complete. It could also take longer, depending on the quality of your application, the length of time you have previously resided in Hong Kong and whether or not you have breached your conditions of stay in any way.

For more details – contact us at sales@centreo.hk