Whether you're working from home or working out of an office, a demanding work schedule can make it challenging to keep your energy up throughout the week. When many of us feel tired, overworked or stressed, our initial reaction is to reach for some feel-good comfort food. While food may be a quick way to boost your mood and energy levels, it's essential that the snacks you reach for are full of nutrients. Keep reading as we dive into the many benefits of healthy snacking on the job and the best snacks for work.
Benefits of Healthy Snacking in the Workplace
When it comes to healthy snacks, the options are endless. Healthy work snacks can range from fresh fruit to wholesome granola bars. What you choose to snack on depends on your taste preferences and meal prepping skills. When making healthy snacks at home, we recommend focusing on whole food ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and nut butter. When combined, these ingredients can make mouthwatering snacks sure to keep you full and focused, no matter how many zoom meetings you have on the calendar.
Snacking at Work Can Enhance Productivity
Eating healthy is an excellent way to ensure that your body stays running the way it should, and energy levels are a big part of that. When your body doesn't receive the nutrients it needs, your energy levels may suffer. Low energy on a busy workday can leave you feeling overwhelmed and underproductive. Enjoying healthy snacks when you feel hungry works to fuel your energy and performance on the job. It allows your brain to stay alert, producing much better work than you would have if you were tired. That being said, many may find that a busy workday makes it hard to maintain a balanced diet. The more active we are, the more difficult it is to manage our time and take proper breaks to enjoy a healthy meal.
By decorating your work desk with a variety of healthy snacks, you can work towards a healthy diet while managing time efficiently. When you find that you have a break during the day, choose your favorite treat to enjoy. And if you share your healthy snacks with others, you may improve your work relationships, creating more opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving around the office. It's a win-win for everyone.
Snacking Helps Maintain High Energy Levels
Healthy snacks aren't just used to provide you with an energy boost. They can be used to avoid energy crashes altogether. If you notice that your workdays are full of ups and downs, especially those pertaining to your energy levels, then you may not be getting the amount of nutrients needed to stay focused.
Remember, food is fuel. What you fuel your body with can either leave you feeling great and energized or more sluggish than before. By incorporating healthy snacks into your work morning and afternoon, you can better balance your blood sugar, preventing unwanted spikes/crashes.
Healthy Snacks Lead to a Healthy Diet
If you're like many of us who have chosen to eat healthier this new year, you will surely want to add healthy snacking to the list. Snacking on healthy, good-for-you foods throughout the day is an essential part of sticking to a healthy diet. By providing your body with tasty, nutrient-filled snack options, you will achieve a balance of needed carbohydrates, protein and fats to keep hunger pains at bay. Without midday snacking, hunger pangs are much more likely to creep up on us. Not only does this pain affect our performance, but it also affects our decision-making skills. Intense hunger pains can lead individuals to feel desperate, causing them to reach for candy bars, fast-food lunches, and sugar-filled drinks as a quick way of curbing their cravings. Additionally, skipping snacks altogether may result in a person overeating once they are able to enjoy a meal.
Ultimately the snacks you choose determine how the rest of your day will go. Ensure that your workday remains productive, happy, and healthy by reaching for nutritious snacks that will help achieve those goals. Luckily at Bob's Red Mill, we have an extensive library of healthy and delicious recipes to make snacking easier. Keep reading to discover the best healthy snacks for work.
Healthy Snacks for Work
Vegetables
It's no secret that vegetables are great for you. While veggies might not be your first go-to snack choice, by combining them with a sauce or dip you love, you can quickly turn a so-so snack into something that you enjoy. Plus, they are a great vegan snack for busy work days that pack a major punch when it comes to nutrition. Curious to know what vegetables you should be snacking on? Here's a list of the veggies we'll be incorporating into your 2021 snack menu.
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cherry
- Tomatoes
- Avocados
To take these snacking veggies to the next level, pair them with a delicious homemade dip like this Cannellini Bean Spread with Rosemary. The perfect dip to make beforehand, whip up a batch of this spread at the beginning of the week and portion it out for your work days ahead.
Additionally, vegetables like beets, carrots, kale and sweet potatoes can be baked into crispy veggies chips that you can pair with just about anything. Swap them as a healthier version of your favorite snacking chips, or eat them alongside your lunch for even more fulfillment.
Fruits
Just like vegetables, fruits can be enjoyed as a nutritious snack no matter the time of day. Certain fruits like apples, grapes, cherries, bananas and berries can be eaten as is. In contrast, fruits like mangos, watermelon and oranges will need to be sliced and prepped before eating. To maximize efficiency and simplicity at work, prep your fruit snacks beforehand and bring them with you in a pre-portioned container. A great way to save time while at work, preparing your snacks ahead of time will prevent you from reaching for something easier once the hunger hits.
Take your snack game up a notch by turning your favorite fruits into a tasty fruit salad. Made in just twenty minutes, this Creamy Fruit Salad is a great way to curb hunger and satisfy your sweet tooth at the same time.
On-the-Go Snacks
When choosing snacks for your workday, you'll want to choose snacks that can be easily transported. Whether you decide to enjoy your snacks at your desk, during a mid-day break or a quick walk, snacks that can be eaten on-the-go are ideal. To help you get started, here are a few of our favorite portable snacks:
Sunshiny Pina Colada Muesli Energy Poppers
Hoping to escape work for a minute? The flavor of these Sunshiny Pina Colada Muesli Energy Poppers will transport your taste buds to a tropical vacation in just seconds. In this recipe, fresh pineapple and creamed coconut are combined with our Almond Protein Powder and gluten free tropical muesli to create a nutrient-packed snack your coworkers will be raving about.
Sweet and Spicy Crispy Chickpeas
Chickpeas are one of our favorite portable snacks! Easy to make and downright delicious, this Sweet and Spicy Chickpea recipe takes garbanzo beans to new heights. A simple blend of spices and some quick oven time transforms these chewy legumes into a crisp, flavorful and addicting snack. Pair them with your favorite sparkling water for the ideal mid-day break.
Bob's Better Bars
If you're running short on time and looking for a snack that you can grab on-the-go, then we suggest keeping a box of Bob's Bars at your desk. With flavors ranging from peanut butter and jelly to peanut butter and coconut, there's bound to be a bar you will love. Made with wholesome ingredients and whole grain oats, they're the ideal solution to your healthy snacking needs.
Homemade Crackers
Now, we talked about making baked chips, but what about making crackers from scratch? While store-bought crackers may be easy to find, making homemade crackers allows you to choose from fresh and wholesome ingredients, ensuring that they're great for you. Pair your homemade crackers with jams, dips, cheese or even prosciutto. A snack like crackers can be made in large batches and packed in work bags, lunch boxes, or purses for the entire family to enjoy.
For a healthy and flavorful cracker recipe, make these Cheese Crisp Crackers. Savory, gluten free and oh-so-tasty, these crackers are wonderful when eaten alone or paired with your favorite flavors.
Choosing and making healthy snacks for your workday can be fun! By following the tips and recipes laid out in this article, you can easily kick hunger cravings to the curb and ensure that your workday is as productive as possible. From homemade bean spread to pre-prepared Bob's Bars, there's undoubtedly a snack on this list that you can try out. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, happy snacking!
Have a healthy work snack that you enjoy? Let us know what your favorite treat is in the comments below. We look forward to hearing from you.
