Healthy Snacks for Work
It’s hard to eat healthy when the breakroom vending machine is calling your name, or it’s a coworker’s birthday, or a vendor’s sales rep drops by with donuts.
Ultimately, you’ll need to exhibit some willpower. But having healthy snacks on hand can help.
According to the Mayo Clinic, healthy snacks between meals can actually aid with not only maintaining, but even losing weight. This is because they help manage hunger and prevent you from binge eating when lunchtime rolls around (or a pizza appears for the team meeting). Health Magazine, meanwhile, says it’s even possible to help boost your metabolism by choosing foods that have a high “thermogenic effect.”
Arming yourself with this information can assist you in choosing healthy snacks for work, and even healthy snacks for weight loss. Here are some guidelines to get the ball rolling.
Workplace Healthy Snack Ideas and Guidelines
1. Desk Friendly
Naturally, you don’t want foods that will make a mess…either on your desk or on your clothes. Avoid foods that are sticky, leave lots of crumbs, take up a lot of space, or melt easily. This would probably rule out peanuts in the shell, many types of crackers, etc.
2. Easy to Store
It’s unavoidable that certain healthy snacks will need refrigeration, but most should be able to stash in your desk. That way, they are easy to grab without disrupting your workflow. Examples could include dried fruit, low-sodium jerky, and raw nuts.
3. Can Be Prepared at the Office
While most offices will offer a microwave and sometimes a toaster oven, anything requiring a stove and actual cookware is likely not an option. Thankfully, healthy foods like oatmeal and air-popped popcorn can be heated up in minutes.
4. Provides Proper Nutrition
You need more than calories to keep you on your game. When choosing healthy snacks, consider their content of nutrients like protein, vitamins, fiber, and healthy fat.
5. Keeps You Feeling Full
The problem with candy or a can of soda is that it perks you up, but a short time later you’re hungry again. Harvard Medical School suggests understanding glycemic index and glycemic load when choosing foods to eat. This way, the foods you eat take longer to digest, keeping you feeling full for longer, plus they don’t spike your blood pressure. Harvard Medical School also published a convenient guide to assist in choosing foods with a low glycemic index.
Healthy Snacks for Work to Lose Weight
- Dried fruit
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh vegetables with a healthy dip like hummus
- Whole-grain crackers paired with low-fat cheese
- Trail mix
- Nonfat Greek Yogurt
- Dark chocolate
- Tuna
- Low sodium jerky
- Raw nuts
- Oatmeal
We also suggest installing one of Stand Up Desk Store’s many office storage and desk organizer options, such as our mobile file cabinet or pencil drawer. That way, you’ll have a convenient place to keep your snacks within easy reach!
We hope you found these healthy snack ideas for work helpful!
