7 Healthy Snacks You Should Keep in Your Desk Drawer at Work
Healthy Snacks
Having nutritious snacks in handy when you are at the office is so important if you want to have a balanced diet. It can help you stay energized and productive all day long without feeling the need to grab something unhealthy to eat.
Healthy snacking improves health, stops cravings, helps in weight gain control, regulates mood, boosts brainpower and gives you energy.
Here are 7 healthy snacks ideas that you can eat at work without feeling guilty:
1. Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate is full of nutrients that affect your health in a positive manner. You can eat it as a dessert and satisfy your sweet cravings without ruining your diet.
It has been proven that dark chocolate satisfies hunger more than milk chocolate.
You should keep in mind that it must be consumed in moderation, due to its high cocoa content.
2. Nuts
Despite being high in fat and calories, nuts are actually diet-friendly. They are considered to be the perfect snack for those busy days at the office for when you’re on the go and you don’t have time for eating.
Almonds, cashews, Brazilian nuts, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, it doesn’t really matter which ones you like, as long as you don’t go overboard.
Nuts are antioxidant powerhouses. The antioxidants in them will help you in combating stress at work and also keep you full for hours.
3. Peanut butter
You can still get those nuts health benefits even if you’re not a fan of eating them whole.
Peanut butter goes perfectly with a fresh apple, a banana, celery, on top of crackers or just as it is. Try to limit yourself to a two tablespoon per serving, considering that it is high in mono-saturated fats and calories.
Peanut butter is also high in potassium and protein which can lower the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and other heart diseases.
4. Granola bars
These classic bars are known to be the best grab-and-go option for those days when you’re very busy at work.
When buying a granola bar, it is very important to read the label and choose wisely! You want to buy a granola bar low in sugar and high in protein and fiber, rather than choosing those low-calorie ones. If it’s homemade it’s even better.
By doing this, you will satisfy your hunger not just your sugar rush.
5. Jerky
When you say jerky your mind probably goes to camping and road trips, but there’s much more to it than that!
It can be the perfect snack for a day at work, a good source of protein that will keep you full for hours.
It is also very rich in iron, an important mineral that helps maintaining blood health and energy levels.
6. Popcorn
Is it a movie night or what? No, sadly just another day at work, but you can make it better by including popcorn in your diet.
Popcorn is one of the world’s most popular snack options. It is a nutritious and high in fiber snack and the best part about it is that it is low in calories as well.
The thing with popcorn is that is can be really healthy or really unhealthy, depending on how you prepare it. Stay away from salty, sugary, buttery popcorn and you’ll be just fine!
7. Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is more convenient than regular yogurt thanks to the high protein content. High in calcium, it can be perfect as a snack that you can just take from your office drawer and eat it quickly.
Calcium promotes bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, a degenerative bone disease. The high amount of protein in greek yogurt is also vital for bone health.
If you feel the need to make it tastier, add some fresh or dried fruits and nuts and enjoy your snack!