Guilt-Free Snacks You Can Take To Work

Those of us who spend the majority of the day at the office are bound to get hungry beyond our lunch hour. When it comes to healthy eating, most of us focus on the main meal, but it’s easy to get sidetracked from your health goals if you’re snacking on chips and brownies to get you through the rest of the day post-salad.

Although your lunch is still important, what you eat throughout the day matters just as much, if not more. Snacking can help boost your energy throughout the day, maintain your focus, and even help with weight loss– that is, if you’re eating the right foods. Spend too much time at the vending machine and you’ll find yourself sluggish and weighed down instead.

Even if you spend most of your time preparing a healthy lunch, you can still fit in a few quick snack ideas that will keep you healthy and nourished while you’re working. Try the following seven easy snack ideas for some healthy munchies to bring with you to work.

Popcorn

If you pop it yourself, popcorn is a low-calorie snack filled with fiber and antioxidants. The key is to air pop it or cook it over the stove with a little bit of oil. Sprinkle on some spices or Parmesan cheese to spruce up the flavor, or switch it up the next week with some coconut oil and cinnamon.

Avocado Toast

Who says you can’t bring toast to work? Just stick a piece of whole grain bread in the toaster, and in between getting ready in the morning, spread a bit of avocado over it, topping with lemon, salt, or red chili flakes as desired. The combination of fiber and healthy fats will keep you satisfied throughout the day and won’t take up much room in your bag (as long as you cover it in tinfoil!).

Hard boiled Eggs

Boiled eggs are not only quick and simple to make in the morning, but they are easy to transport and store. Their protein content will keep you satiated until the end of the day, and you can eat them with a little bit of salt and pepper or hot sauce for an added boost of flavor.

Homemade Trail Mix

If you’re worried about your food spoiling, making your own trail mix is the perfect solution. Nuts are a good source of healthy fats and fiber, and creating your own mix allows you to not only switch up the flavor, but maximize the amount of nutrients you get throughout the day. Foods like walnuts, almonds, and dark chocolate can not only keep you full, but boost your mood, energy, and focus.

Oatmeal cookies

Make some all-natural oatmeal cookies that will last you through the week. Just use two ripe bananas, one cup of rolled oats, and some cinnamon and any nuts, fruit, or chocolate of choice. Mash your banana with the oats and bake at 350 degrees for 13-15 minutes, and you have an easy-to-transport snack at your disposal for the rest of the week.

Rice cake and peanut butter

If you don’t have a refrigerator at work, you’re good to go with bringing a piece of rice cake slathered in peanut butter. The crunchy snack takes only seconds to prepare at home, and the combination of carbohydrates and protein will help keep your blood sugar steady and prevent you from crashing midway through the day.

Carrots and hummus

Spoon your favorite hummus into the bottom of a Mason jar and stick in some carrots or celery on top before you screw shut. This way, you can enjoy the protein-and-fiber-filled combo without having to worry about spillage during your morning commute.