Eating healthy at the office isn’t always easy. The breakroom vending machine is just down the hall, and your favorite fast food restaurant is a quick five-minute walk away, so there really isn’t anything stopping you from indulging in some unhealthy treats on a weekly basis.
That said, committing to a healthy diet is such an important part of overall health and wellness, and sometimes all it takes to get down the right diet path is a little bit of preparation. With that in mind, here’s a list of 10 healthy office snacks that don’t require a ton of work, but with a little bit of planning can pack a big healthy punch.
1) Carrots and Hummus
Carrots and hummus is a really quick and easy snack to pack, but it’s also delicious and filling. The carrots help to work towards your daily recommended vegetable servings, while the hummus adds that burst of flavour and is a great source of protein. If you’re not fond of carrots, this snack also works with other raw veggies, like cucumber or bell peppers. If you’re feeling really ambitious, here’s a fun recipe for homemade hummus to try out.
2) Organic Granola Bars
Granola bars are an excellent source of energy, and if you can find one that is organic or low in sugar that’s even better. If you’re not sure where to start to find such an item, check out this great blog that outlines 15 granola bars that are actually relatively healthy (we like the Kind bars!).
3) Healthy Trail Mix
Trail mix is a great snack that will definitely fill you up, as nuts are known to be a source of healthy fats and protein. The great thing about trail mix is that it’s completely customizable; you can make your own and choose which ingredients to add depending on your preferences. Some ingredient ideas to get you started could include an assortment of nuts (like cashews, almonds, peanuts, etc….), dried fruit (such as cranberries or raisins), sunflower seeds or shredded coconut. Here’s some more recipes to get you going!
4) Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including improving bone strength as a source of calcium and improving gut health due to inherent probiotics. If you’re not sure if you’d like to have the yogurt on its own, you could easily pair it with some fresh fruit and a healthy granola to make a delightful and filling parfait for the office.
5) Green Smoothie
A green smoothie in the morning or during the midday slump will definitely give you that boost of energy you’re looking for, plus it’s a great way to get in your daily recommended fruit and vegetable servings. Smoothies are rich in vitamins and fibre, and you can really add in whatever you would like depending on your flavour preferences. If you’re new to the world of smoothies, here’s a list of simple recipes to try out at the start.
6) Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
I don’t know about you, but this was a staple snack throughout my childhood and it still tastes great as an adult! As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and while this may be an over exaggeration, apples are still an excellent source of fibre and healthy sugars. By pairing them with a little bit of peanut butter, you get that extra protein plus the creamy yumminess you need to get through. This also works great with bananas!
7) Crackers and Cheese
Another childhood staple, a couple of crackers with cheese can be a good option to add in some extra calcium to your diet. Choose a less-processed cracker of the multigrain variety and pair it with your favourite cheese to munch on. Remember that certain cheeses have higher fat and sodium content than others, so be sure to choose a healthy variety and know that moderation here is key.
8) Rice Cake and Nut Butter
A rice cake is a light snack that is low in calories, making it a great option if you’re trying to watch your weight. By adding a healthy nut butter of some kind, whether that’s almond, peanut butter or hazelnut, you’ll get some more flavour making this a tasty treat for those long days at work. If you want to find a nut butter that is less processed and does not contain as many preservatives as a more mainstream brand, check out this list of nine nutritious nut butters to try out.
9) Energy Balls
Energy balls are easy to make and filling, plus their namesake is no joke: they’ll give you energy! If you dedicate one evening to making these tasty bites, you’ll have a great snack to enjoy for the rest of the week. Here’s some recipe ideas to help you get going (all of which are no bake, by the way, making them super easy to throw together in no time!).
10) Homemade Muffins
Last but not least, there’s nothing quite like a good homemade muffin. You can make them savoury or sweet, big or small, but no matter what you would prefer there are tons of recipes out there to help you make a muffin that is packed with nutrition. Muffins are also really easy to pack in a lunch, and the paper cups they come in make them easily portable when you need to eat on the go. For 17 muffin recipes to get you started, check out this blog from Delish.
