Avoiding snacks at work is like avoiding breathing, but a biscuit or three can quickly have us feeling bad about our health in the long run. Restriction can have a negative impact on our mental wellbeing if we feel like we're torturing ourselves over something so menial, so what's the fix? Having snacks to hand that are good for us and delicious is a guilt-free way to indulge mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and on the way home from work - not to mention the extra energy boost from all the health coursing through our veins will make us better employees too.
Raw Energy Balls
As hipster as they sound, raw energy balls have come into fashion in the past couple of years, and we are more than happy for them to stay. Ordinarily comprising of nuts, seeds, and raw dried fruit, they're jam-packed full of protein and healthy sugars, which release energy slowly throughout the day. You can find OODLES of recipes online, whether you're looking for something chocolatey, nutty, or prefer something on the plain side, there is an energy ball out there for you, waiting to be discovered.
Carrots & Hummus
A classic. Most of us have been eating these since our mums packed them in our lunchbox age five, but it's only in adulthood that you really begin to appreciate this duo. Hummus is a great snack anyway because it feels indulgent, but is healthy af, and can be home-made easily too. We don't think you need us to tell you about carrots, but just in case, they're pretty good for you too.
Fruit Salad
Not the sad, watery ones you pick up from the local mini-market, but a home-made one featuring all of your faves. Blueberries? Yep. Cherries? Of course. Watermelons? Why not. Sometimes the best thing about snacking is the ability to graze - a snack that doesn't need to be finished all in one go means the joy can be spread more evenly, and a box of your own fruit salad to pick and choose from as you get peckish fits the bill. Pairing this with a high-protein yogurt keeps your energy levels up for the rest of the day.
Apples & Peanut Butter
Another unlikely but delicious duo, the sugar from the apple picks you up, whilst the proteins and fats from the peanut butter make sure that energy is released slowly. Tbh we put peanut butter on pretty much anything, but these two together are one of the healthiest ways to go about it.
Roasted Seeds
Pumpkin and sunflower are both packed full of proteins and healthy oils that have shown to boost brainpower. Whilst this snack can get messy (try grabbing a handful and dropping them gracefully into your mouth. Impossible) it is nevertheless bizarrely filling and incredibly satisfying. Keep in mind how easy it is to finish an entire bag of seeds, so divide portions up before you pack them for work.
Kale Crisps
Whilst they don't sound too exciting, they are damn good and so incredibly good for you. Extremely moreish when salted just right, kale crisps are another hipster snack that might just be worth the hype. Pop your oven to 120c, drizzle a little olive oil over the kale, and bake them for 45 minutes. Once out, sprinkle them with a little salt and you have yourself a snack on par with potato crisps in taste, with triple the goodness.
Dark Chocolate
If you really can't resist the old cocoa bean, then dark chocolate is an excellent choice to satisfy that sweet tooth. Dark chocolate is famously full of anti-oxidants - who said being healthy had to be boring?