Create a Healthy Work Snack Stash
By Sara Butler
That vending machine down the hall sure can call your name in the afternoon. But instead of giving in to its call, fight back against mid-morning or afternoon hunger pangs with snacks of your own. If you can get into the habit of keeping some healthy snacks on hand at work, then it’ll make resisting the junk food in the break room a lot easier. Here are some ideas to get you started!
Should You Snack
When done the right way, snacking can help to curb your hunger throughout the day, reducing the chance of overeating at meals. Plus, snacks can be a great way to make sure you’re getting the number of servings you need each day of fruits, protein, fiber, and vegetables.
Nuts
Nuts are portable and tasty. Pistachios, almonds, and peanuts make exceptional snacks to keep on hand at work because they’re full of fiber and protein. Nuts have been found in studies to help protect you from heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Plus, they promote a healthy weight by helping you to feel full and turn down snacks seriously lacking in nutrition.
Trail Mix
Trail mix can make a great snack as long as you take the time to make it yourself. Prepackaged trail mix is often made with candy, so it’s really no better than something from the vending machine. To make your own trail mix, simply use whole grain cereal, dried fruit, nuts, and maybe a few dark chocolate chips.
Fresh Fruit
You can’t go wrong with a piece of fresh fruit for a snack. Bananas, pears, apples, and oranges are all ideal snacks for your desk drawer. It provides fiber and tastes good. So, bring your favorite fruit in for an afternoon snack to help you make it through until dinner.
Sugar Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas help to give you a satisfying crunch without all the calories and fat of potato chips. Plus, they can stay good out of the refrigerator for a day or two.
Popcorn
You can air pop your own popcorn and bring it into the office for a satisfying, whole grain snack. Add a little salt or other spice to give it a little kick. It’s best to avoid microwave popcorn, though. That’s often full of trans fat and other preservatives that aren’t great for you, plus some offices have a strict “no popcorn” policy for the microwave!
Smart snacking at work will keep you healthy and give you the energy to zip through your day!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Farmington, Utah.
