Our Top 5 Workday Snacks

Throughout the workday, it’s only natural to get hungry before or after lunch. It might be easiest to grab the nearest bag of chips or treats, so we’ve gathered a list of some great healthy replacements. These snacks give your body the fuel you need without sacrificing flavor.

Healthy midday snacks

Here’s a list of 5 of the best healthy go-to snacks to munch on throughout your workday:

1. Fruit and nut butter (try apples and peanut butter!)
2. Popcorn (whole grains, for the win)
3. Full-fat dairy
4. Roasted chickpeas (packed with protein)
5. Baked veggie chips (a sweet and colorful alternative to potato chips)

Fruit

Fruit is a great source of fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, and potassium. We recommend picking fruit that is in season. In summer, opt for watermelon, berries, cantaloupe, or honeydew melon. As the months get cooler, apples are a great snack that can be eaten on-the-go. No matter the season, there is bound to be a fruit that you like!  Always pair your fruit with a healthy fat for optimal blood sugar balance. See our recommendation below!

Nut and seed butter

Delicious when paired with fruits like apples and bananas, some of our favorite creamy and crunchy butters include peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter. These all contain healthy fats that are good for your heart and cholesterol levels. And each has its own unique taste, so try different nut butter and fruit combinations to see which you like the best! The added bonus of pairing nut or seed butter with fruit is that the extra healthy fat helps blunt any blood sugar spike from the fruit.

Popcorn

Now when we say popcorn, we don’t mean the all you can eat bucket of movie theater popcorn. Instead, we’re talking about organic, non-GMO popcorn that you either pop at home or buy from a high-quality brand. It’s a great source of gluten-free whole grains and also contains fiber and antioxidants. If you’re looking for some flavor to add to your popcorn, you can use olive oil, grass-fed butter, salt and pepper, or chile flakes. In fact, the olive oil or grass-fed butter will help balance your blood sugar, just like nut butter does for fruit!

Full-fat dairy

While dairy often gets bad press, if you tolerate it (i.e. you feel good when you eat it), it can be a great option to incorporate into your meals or snacks. Just make sure that you choose the highest quality that you can afford (ideally 100% grass-fed or pasture-raised) and always opt for full-fat dairy. It makes the perfect easy snack, whether you cut a few pieces of cheddar cheese or grab a greek yogurt.

Roasted chickpeas

This non-perishable snack has a good amount of protein and also contains fiber and other vitamins and minerals. Thanks to the fiber, chickpeas might also help you stay full for longer.  To make roasted chickpeas, simply drain a can of chickpeas, pat them dry, toss in olive oil, salt, and seasonings of your choice, and bake for 40 minutes.

Baked veggie chips

Veggie chips are a great choice if you are craving the crunch from potato chips. But, as with a lot of store-bought “healthy” snacks, pre-packaged veggie chips contain extra vegetable oils and unnecessary additives. That’s why we recommend making our own! Our favorite veggies to slice and bake include sweet potatoes, zucchini, radishes, beets, and carrots. Make sure you spread out your chips in a single layer and bake at 375 for 20 minutes to achieve crispy veggie chips!

Grabbing an easy snack during the workday is super convenient – so why not prep ahead of time and keep healthy options on hand? And snack or no snack, by the time dinner rolls around you’ll need some extra fuel. Let Snap Kitchen do the work for you – check out our healthy, chef-prepared, deliciously nutritious menu.