When you are trying to eat healthily, it’s so important to plan meals and snacks ahead of time to set up for success. While you’re at work, there is plenty of temptation to grab candy from the candy bowl or pick up a bag of chips from the vending machine. Having healthy snacks handy in your desk or lunch box helps fight those cravings.
Snacking on healthy food throughout your workday will not only help you keep your health goals on track, but it will also help keep you fueled and feeling full longer throughout the day. In this article, we will explore 7 great healthy snacks that will help you get through your workday.
Fresh Vegetables and Hummus
This is a great snack that is easy to put together in the morning and just needs to be kept cold until you are ready to eat it. You can change up the vegetables you use and even the flavor of your hummus to keep this exciting snack week to week. Hummus is delicious and full of protein, so it’s a great nutritious snack.
Slice up some rainbow peppers into thin strips and dip into a scoop of the hummus of your choice. Broccoli, cucumbers, and carrots are other great vegetable options that taste great with the savory flavors in the hummus. Try a fun flavor like garlic or roasted red pepper hummus, or keep it simple with traditional hummus.
Homemade Yogurt Parfait
If you love yogurt but notice that some premixed fruit yogurts’ sugar is a little high, you’re not alone. Yogurt is such a great snack because it is a good source of protein and fat, so try making your own yogurt parfait topped with berries.
Choose a full-fat plain Greek yogurt and top it with fresh berries or other fruit of your choice. Berries are full of antioxidants and give you the sweetness you’re looking for, so they taste great with yogurt. Greek yogurt is low in sugar and loaded with good fats to keep you feeling longer.
If you’re craving some additional sweetness or crunch, drizzle your parfait with some honey or add some low-sugar granola.
Apples with Nut Butter
A staple snack for any healthy eater’s arsenal is apples with nut butter. This snack is so easy to grab on the go and doesn’t even require refrigeration. You can bring an apple to work with you and even leave your nut butter on your desk for easy access when you need it.
Any nut butter of your choice is a delicious dip for your apple. You can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, or even sun butter if you have a nut allergy. Look for natural nut butter without added salt or sugar whenever possible.
This snack is perfect if you don’t have much time to prep in the morning or limited time or space to prep while at work. You don’t need much for this filling and delicious snack! So slice up your apple, dip, and enjoy!
Hard-Boiled Eggs
This one requires a little preparation at the beginning of the week, but you will thank yourself when you have an easy snack to grab throughout the workweek. Boil a batch of eggs on Sunday and store in the fridge until you are ready to eat, then just simply peel and enjoy!
Hard-boiled eggs are very high in protein, so they are a great pick-me-up to snack on throughout a long workday. You can eat them with one hand, and they will help you feel full. In addition, hard-boiled eggs are low in calories, making them a favorite snack for dieters who want to stay on track.
You can snack on hard-boiled eggs alone or add some vegetables for some additional flavor and nutrients. A great option to pair with hard-boiled eggs is a handful of grape tomatoes or cucumber slices.
Protein-Packed Fruit Smoothie
Let your creativity reign and design the perfect refreshing smoothie! Grab your favorite fruits (fresh or frozen – make sure to add ice if you do fresh fruit), a source of protein like your favorite protein powder or yogurt, and a liquid of your choices like almond milk or water.
The protein is key to this smoothie, helping you make it through a long workday, so don’t skip that step. You can add vegetables like spinach or kale to your smoothie for an added nutrient boost, but don’t be surprised when it turns your drink a funny color!
You can add in a scoop of nut butter or avocado for some extra satiating good fats as well. Play around with different flavor combinations until you find one that works for you. As long as you have fruits, protein, liquid, and ideally a vegetable and/or fat, you can’t go wrong! So throw it in the blender and enjoy your incredible, delicious treat!
Handful of Nuts
For an east workday snack that requires virtually no prep work at all, keep a bag of nuts on your desk at work. Of course, the healthiest options would be nutrient-dense nuts like almonds, walnuts, or cashews, but feel free to try pistachios, peanuts, or even a mixed-nut blend.
Nuts are a great snack, but it can be easy to eat too many in one sitting, so it’s essential to pour them into an appropriate portion-sized container or buy individual packs. Also, make sure you opt for raw unsalted nuts and don’t have any added flavors or seasonings.
Cold-Cut Rollups
All the flavor of your favorite sandwich, without the guilt. Cold cuts don’t have to be just lunch meat; they are a great snack. Buy your favorite cold cuts, roll them up, or cut them into pinwheels for easy snacking. Pair with a cheese stick or fresh vegetables for an added crunch.
Cold cuts are notoriously high in sodium, so choose a low-sodium or no sodium added variety whenever possible. Dip your cold-cut rollups in mustard or avocado oil mayonnaise to amp up the flavor and save on calories.
