If you’re trying to eat healthy, cut back on sugar and generally watch what you eat, going to work each day can make sticking to your healthy eating regime a challenge.
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From store bought sugar laden birthday cakes, muffins and cheesecakes to super sweet doughnuts and the inevitable bag of never ending office chocolates, you’ll want to steer clear of these and instead have healthier alternatives at your fingertips to minimize temptation when it does arise.
TIP: If your work colleagues like to put on a birthday spread for you each year, instead of opting for a cake that comes from who knows where with untold amounts of sugar, politely request a cheese platter instead. The cheese will fill you up more and you’ll probably eat less as a result.
10 Healthy Portable Snack Ideas For Work
Here are my go to tips and ideas for sensible snacks so you can stay committed to your healthy eating regime when you’re surrounded by a group of sweet toothed office co-workers.
- Flavoured Nuts. Nuts are a quick snack that can be kept in your handbag or in your office drawer. Nuts are a good choice with heaps of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Their good fats make you feel full and end those hunger pangs fast, but the energy they provide lasts long, with no spikes or crashes unlike sugar coated nuts.
- Check out these Chilli & Lime Cashews Almonds & Peanuts and Satay Cashews Almonds & Peanuts from Harvest Box
- Chickpea Chips. They’re a quick snack that can keep you fuller for longer, and you can buy them in portion size packets to keep your snacking in check. Like nuts, Chickpeas have fiber and protein, so you’ll be able to avoid junk food and not get the guilts for eating 3 pieces of someone elses birthday cake.
- Get these Salt and Pepper Chickpea Chips from Nature First, or these Roasted and Lightly Salted Chickpeas from the Happy Snack Company
- Popcorn is a good high-fiber snack choice that often surprises people. I love having a popcorn snack on a Friday afternoon - The aroma will make all you co workers jealous and your workplace will temporarily smell like a movie theatre. My fave is Cobs Natural Popcorn in mini packs.
- Popcorn may look like a lightweight snacking option, and it is, with many low-fat options that that are light on calories. Skip the flavoured ones and go for a natural salted popcorn that comes in serving sized packets.
- No Added Sugar Nut Bars. Bars are a great option as a more substantial snack, and especially when they’re loaded with superfoods. Bars are an ideal healthy morning or afternoon snack, for sustained long lasting energy.
- Check out this No Added Sugar Peanut Puff Quinoa and Almond Bar.
- Bliss Balls. These are great when you’re not in the mood for something savoury and are chasing a snack that will fill you up, won’t give you sugar spikes but also has a little sweet touch to it.
- Here are some of my favourite no added sugar bliss balls: Berry Bazooka Health Bombs, Peanut Butter Snack Balls, and Crazy Cacao Health Bombs.
- Raw Foodie Bars. Convenient if you have to rush out the door before breakfast, or have to work through lunch, raw food bars can be you little secret to getting through the day.
- A couple on my regular playlist are the Superfoodie Banana Coconut Walnut Chia Slice because I love bananas and the Superfoodie Blueberry Lemon Slice.
- Whole grain crackers. You’ll probably crave carbohydrates during your day. There are days I definitely do. Instead of reaching for bread, crackers are the better option.
- It can be hard to focus at work while you’re fighting a carbohydrate craving. Instead of ignoring it, you can satisfy it with whole grain crackers. Select varieties that have lower calories and more fiber like these Sea Sat and Vinegar Brown Rice Crackers, or these Chilli Salsa Crackers.
- Protein Snacks. Handy when you skipped lunch, or are feeling really low in energy and need a quick pick me up. I also have these on hand for a quick snack in the afternoon before my gym workouts when I’m feeling like I need a little push to get there.
- Put these on our list to try: Krumballs Strawberry & Coconut Protein Balls, and Coconut Macadamia Balls (I love these!).
- Fruit Leather. Remember the days of fruit rollups in your school lunchbox? Well, they’re back and as popular as ever, and just because we now have a work lunchbox, instead of a school lunchbox, don’t let that stop you.
- Let your tastebuds relive your childhood without the sugar crash. Check this one out if you want to stock up your pantry on this portable snack.
- Sugar Free Chocolate. I’ll admit I thought about not putting chocolate on the list of portable snacks, but hey, it’s all about moderation. And because sometimes you just need a little chocolate. So why not be prepared and have one on hand that is not loaded with sugar and other preservatives.
- Like for example this Stevia Sweetened White Chocolate Block, or its sister block – the Stevia Sweetened Milk Chocolate Block, or this too good to be true Sugar Free Drinking Chocolate. Perfect for 3pm on winter work days.
If you love to snack while you work, then you can pick healthier options and still enjoy what you’re eating. The key is to find healthy foods that you’ll enjoy eating that aren’t loaded with refined sugars.
Take Action: Start Building up your snack drawer little by little, working out what you like and what you don’t like, but don’t go overboard and remember it is all about moderation. Limit your snack draw to 7 snacks at a time – 1 for each workday and 2 emergency ones. Top it up once a week, and keep your main stash at home in a cupboard you rarely go into.
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