In office, satiating your afternoon hunger panks with snacks like chips or a candy bar does not make the day go by any quicker. The answer is not to eliminate snacks, but rather to select good office snacks to begin with. Through this blog, we will tell you which healthy office snacks to keep on hand and will provide a comprehensive list of healthy snacks for work to help you maintain energy throughout long meetings and deadlines. We will also feature some of the best office snacks for certain scenarios and a couple healthy snack ideas for a space-constrained office.
Why Your Snack Choices at Work Matter
What you snack between meals has a direct impact on your focus, mood and energy for the day. The wrong office treats (usually candy, cookies, or processed carbohydrates) can cause a rapid rise in energy followed by an even greater fall in about an hour. It's for this reason that it's crucial to have a pantry of healthy office snacks on hand for anyone who spends many hours sitting at their desk or in back-to-back meetings.
The best office snacks consist of a blend of protein and fibre with healthy fats which help the body process the energy more slowly than a sugary snack. In the long run, replacing less healthy foods on the job with more nutritious options can also help promote healthy weight and avoid energy slumps during the week.
Best Office Snacks You Can Keep at Your Desk
Some of the best office snacks are shelf-stable. That is, they don't require a fridge or a microwave to be enjoyed. Here are some safe choices that you can store in your desk drawer:
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Roasted Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, walnuts and roasted chick peas are great healthy snacks for the office as they are a combination of protein, fiber and healthy fats in an easy to carry, non-perishable format.
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Whole Fruit
Some of the best office snack ideas are the ones that don't need any preparation and are naturally sweet like apples, bananas, and oranges without added sugar.
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Roasted Makhana (Fox Nuts)
Roasted makhana has a crunchy texture and is one of the healthier snack choices for the office when you need something light, it's also a popular Indian snack with little calories.
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Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate, at 70% or more, is one of the less-suspicious of the best office snacks, yet still somewhat decadent to have on hand when you're craving a sweet fix.
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Protein Bars
If you need a snack while at work but don't have time to come up with something to cook, you can make it convenient to grab a protein bar with minimal added sugar.
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Roasted Chana (Chickpeas)
Chana dahlia is an affordable, healthy snack that not only has a high protein and fiber content, but is also one of the most convenient options for Indian offices.
Office Snacks Ideas That Require a Little Prep
If your office has a fridge, you can get even more variety with these office snack ideas:
- Greek yogurt topped with fruit or seeds — a protein-rich option that's good for gut health, too.
- Hummus and cut vegetables (carrots, cucumber and bell peppers are all good choices to add fiber and protein to this dip)
- Boiled eggs are an easy-to-make and protein-rich option to consider.
- Homemade Energy Balls are made with dates, nuts and seeds and are great for trips or can be stored without refrigeration for a couple days.
- Sprouts salad – a tasty low calorie salad and a high protein choice that requires minimal preparation and can be done the night before.
These are types of healthy snacks to eat at work that are great for those who like to schedule their meals two or more days ahead of time.
Healthy Snacks for Work Meetings and Long Days
When it comes to healthy snacks for work, it's important to have something that you won't feel guilty for eating afterward, as you won't want to be sluggish after the meeting. Here, nuts, roasted chickpeas and fruit are best because they can be consumed easily without help and are easy to clean up.
If you know you will be in back-to-back calls for days, make a little snack box the night before, stuffing it with a protein source such as roasted chana along with a piece of fruit – this way, healthy office snacks will be available to you at all times and you won't end up having to resort to the office vending machine or a colleague's sugary snack at your desk.
Healthy Snack Options for Office Setups with Limited Space
Some people don't have a spacious desk or storage at work, which is why it's important that there are small healthy snack ideas for the office. Small pieces such as handful of nuts in a re-usable bag, single serve roasted chana packets, couple dates etc are good as they don't consume much space. These sorts of low-impact office treats are particularly helpful when you're listed sharing a space or hot desking.
Office Snacks to Avoid or Limit
When you're creating a list of go to best office snacks, it is also important to be aware of ones that may hinder you from being energetic:
- These sugary biscuits and pastries can cause rapid energy drops.
- Packaged chips that are deep fried, which can be high in unhealthy fat and sodium
- Sugar drinks and energy drinks, which cause a quick rise, followed by a rapid decline in blood sugar levels
- Processed snack foods containing little or no nutritional value such as instant noodles
By mid-afternoon, you'll notice a difference in how you feel if you restrict these and opt for healthier, more balanced snacks instead.
Tips for Building a Sustainable Office Snack Routine
Prep in batches:
Prepare a big batch of chana or makhana on a weekend and always have healthy options to snack on while at work.
Keep a stash at your desk:
A little drawer of nut, dried fruit and protein bar keeps you from getting stuck without office snacks when you get really busy.
Pair carbs with protein:
Mixing fruit with nuts or crackers with hummus, or any other nut butter, lowers the concentration of the individual foods and make them a more balanced healthy snack for the office.
Watch portion sizes:
Foods that are good for you, like nuts, are high in calories and easier to overeat, so it's best to pre-portion into small containers.
Stay hydrated too:
Sometimes, you may think you are hungry when you're just about to drink some water, so keep water within reach, along with your favorite office snacks.
Conclusion
It doesn't take much to make better office snacks; a little planning and a little more of a balance and nutrient-rich approach. Whether you're looking for an easy healthy snack for the office, such as nuts and fruit, or a ready-to-feed office snack idea, like hummus and vegetables or homemade energy balls, there are plenty of healthy snacks for the office to choose from for any schedule or workspace. Whether you want to stock up with the healthiest office snacks for your desk drawer or just pick up small healthy snack ideas for the office, making consistent, small changes to your snacking routine can make a big difference in your energy and productivity all day long.
FAQs
What are some easy healthy office snacks to start with?
Shelf-stable healthy snacks that don't need to be prepared, such as roasted nuts, whole fruit, roasted makhana and roasted chana are easy snacks for your office to eat.
What are good office snacks ideas for someone with fridge access at work?
If there is a fridge available in the office, then consider the following ideas for snacks: Greek yogurt, hummus paired with vegetables, boiled eggs, and homemade energy balls.
What healthy snacks for work are best for long meetings?
Fruit, nuts, roasted chickpeas are the best healthy snacks to keep at your workplace during long meetings as they can be eaten quietly without utensils.
What are the best office snacks for people with limited desk space?
If you have limited storage space, small, single serve snacks like a pouch of nuts, roasted chana or a few dates are useful office snacks.
Are there healthy snack options for office workers who want something sweet?
Dark chocolate, whole fruit, and date energy balls are good, healthy snacks that satisfy an office worker's craving for something sweet without the added sugar.
