We spend so many hours at the office that sometimes finding a healthy way to grab a snack can seem like a lot of work. First, you have to find the right recipes; then, do the groceries, cook, do the dishes, make lunch boxes, carry them back home, wash the containers; and then, the next day, you have to do it all over again… It’s exhausting! So, I understand why getting that corn dog or bag of chips seems easier. However, snacking doesn’t have to be unhealthy. And healthy snacking doesn’t have to be so hard.
Yes. The first few days of cooking healthy are the worst. I’m not going to lie. Still, this is the price we have to pay for a better and longer life. To eat healthy requires discipline. I know it may seem hard at first, but just give it some time; you’ll get used to it.
There might be times when you feel tempted to get that bag of chips or those chocolate bars for a quick snack at the office. And then, little by little, that Monday granola bar will be there for Tuesday, and then Wednesday, and so on until healthy eating is no longer part of your daily routine. So, to prevent this from happening, here are 10 easy and healthy snacks for work to make, so you don’t fall into temptation during office hours. Grab some cash and your reusable bags because we are going shopping.
Dehydrated green peas or roasted seeds with salt. There is a big chance you might find them at local markets or organic stores. Just consider your daily sodium intake before purchasing or cooking these.
Fruit in its easiest presentation. Just like that. Take an apple, a banana, tangerine, red fruits (whatever you want) on your backpack and that’s it. Eat fresh fruit will give you many nutrients, vitamins, and some good old fiber. Also, its practicality (you don’t need to cook), eco-friendliness, and affordability make fruit a great everyday snack.
Apple sandwiches with peanut butter or hummus. This recipe is super easy and, no, we are not going to use bread. All you need is to cut the apple in slices (thick ones), take out the core and the seeds, spread some peanut butter or hummus on them, and stick them together like a bagel.
Avocado toast with strawberries. Is there anything more delicious than avocado and strawberries… together?! You will need one slice of wholemeal toast, then spread half of an avocado, pour just a little olive oil on it (it will prevent it from oxidizing), and add some sea salt, black pepper, and the strawberry slices on top. You can add some balsamic vinegar at the end. Be careful, though, this stuff’s addictive.
Seaweed veggie rolls with greek yogurt dressing. Cut some long, thick slices of cucumber, red peppers, and carrots. Place them on the seaweed and wrap them up. For the dressing, you’ll need one cup of greek yogurt, some lemon juice, one chopped garlic globe, fresh mint, and lemon zest. It’s a tasty, low-calorie snack perfect for a sunny day.
Dehydrated chips. You can buy or make these yourself. Zucchini, beets, and sweet potatoes are wonderful for this recipe, and you can cook them in the oven: cut the veggies in slices, place them in a bowl, pour two tablespoons of olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper, and stir. Place the slices on a tray and put them in the oven at 200ºC for 30 minutes, and then let it cool down. Carry these chips in a ziplock bag to keep them dry and crunchy.
Hummus and baked tortilla chips. You can find individual packages already, and all you need to do is take a small container with hummus so you can dip them right before lunchtime.
A mix of berries and nuts. Strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries, as well as macadamia nuts, cashews, pistachios. Show your creative self and make an original combination. These combinations are the perfect substitute for all those high-calorie bars.
Dark chocolate and berries. The darker the chocolate, the better. Dark chocolate is low in sugar and fat. Besides, adding berries (of any kind) will give you lots of antioxidants.
Banana and orange bites. Peel and mash the banana in a bowl, pour half a cup of orange juice (it’s better if it’s freshly squeezed) and add oats. Mix until the consistency looks like dough and make small cookies with it. Lay them on a tray with some baking paper, and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 200ºC. Presto! Sweet, healthy cookies to go with your coffee!
These recipes may seem hard to make, but they’re quite practical. All you need to do is to spend a few hours of your weekend cooking them, so you can have alternatives to snack on. As a side note, stay away from Protein Bars, Fruit Bars, Nut Bars, Energy Bars, Nightclub Bars… Just say “no” to all of the above, okay? Otherwise, the effort and hard work of previous days will be ruined and you’ll have to eat raw celery for the next few days (and where’s the fun in that?). Just stay away from bars… and potato chips… and pizza. Don’t eat them. Don’t think about them. Don’t even stare at them because they can smell fear and despair. May the force be with you. Good luck!
Cover photo by Brooke Lark