No matter what is on my agenda for the day, my snack schedule is always taken into consideration before leaving the house. Packing snacks to bring to work is essential to ward off hunger pains that come in the mid-morning or homestretch hours between lunch and quitting time.
Even with a weekend day full of shopping and various errands, I make sure there is always a small bite handy. Trust me, packing a healthy snack helps avoid poor food choices that occur last minute at the peak of hunger. Healthy snacks between meals can help control hunger which would prevent you from overeating at the end of the day. I often refer to snacks as “mini meals” because they should be just as balanced as a “regular meal” including: a carbohydrate, protein, and healthy fat. In fact, a small portion of leftovers can often act as a good pick-me-up during the day.
Try these packable and portable snack options:
- Individual bags of trail mix or nuts
- Dry roasted edamame
- Whole fruit (apple, orange, banana, etc)
- Whole grain crackers and cheese or peanut butter
- Half of a PB&J sandwich on whole wheat bread
- Low sodium beef jerky
- Granola bars with fiber and protein (try to get at least 5g fiber)
For healthy snacks that require refrigeration and would be more ideal for work vs running errands:
- Yogurt and fresh fruit
- String cheese and fruit or whole grain crackers
- Cottage cheese with berries and nuts
- Hummus and vegetables – carrots, bell pepper, cucumber, celery
- Half a turkey sandwich – low fat cheese and whole grain bread
Just remember, keeping a snack handy during the day will keep you from binge eating later.