7 Wholesome and Delicious Snacks to Take to Work
An energy boost during the day may optimize productivity. Whether you are working from home or are in an office, healthy snacks may offer brain power, enhance your mood, and energize you. Healthy snacks are also easy to make, fresh, free of additives, and brimming with nutrients!
Simple, nutritious snacks also keep you away from the office vending machine. Or, if you are WFH, delicious snack foods will ensure you do not spend time rummaging through the fridge and cupboards looking for a satisfying treat.
Be prepared for the next time you feel peckish and need an energy boost. Here are seven healthy, nutritious, protein-filled recipe ideas to increase your productivity.
Trail mix
This is the easiest snack to prepare. A combination of nuts and dried fruit packs a lot of nutrition in one handful. You can also roast the nuts before, then add your choice of chopped, dried fruit.
Peanuts, cranberries, dried apricots and almonds offer vitamin C, vitamin, A, iron, magnesium, potassium and folate, according to Eating Well. Plus, your homemade trail mix is loaded with fiber. Be careful as it is addictive! Try to eat a quarter cup at a time.
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Hummus and veggies
This healthy, protein-packed snack is ready in 20 minutes. Homemade hummus is more delicious and nutritious than store bought. This tasty sweet potato, chipotle, and lime hummus from Sweet Peas and Saffron is best served with sliced veggies and rice cakes.
The basic ingredients are canned chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, tehina, cumin, and salt. There are many variations of hummus including garlic white bean, pumpkin, black bean, and roasted red pepper. Make extra and freeze.
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Energy balls
Power packed, these bite-sized balls are also known as energy bites. The basic ingredients are medjool dates, maple syrup, rolled oats, and cocoa powder. Sweet Peas and Saffron suggests you first soak the dates in boiling water, then blend with the other ingredients to form balls. Add in chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or dried blueberries. To give them a truffle-like appearance, coat each ball in cocoa powder or desiccated coconut.
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Roasted chickpeas
Chickpeas are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, according to Healthline. Half a cup of chickpeas offers 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein, plus many amino acids. Eating legumes also gives you a full, satisfying feeling.
Simply drain a can of chickpeas, toss them in olive oil, add sea salt and your favorite seasoning. Bake at 350 Fahrenheit (176 Celsius) for 40 minutes.
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Popcorn
Home-popped popcorn is low in calories, high in fiber, and is nutritious, making it a perfect snack choice. Popcorn also has vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, which are antioxidants that help protect against chronic diseases like heart disease, according to Healthline. Toss your popcorn with olive oil, nutritional yeast, and chili powder.
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Baked veggie chips
After you have baked your own homemade chips, you may not want store-bought again. Healthline suggests using thinly sliced potatoes, carrots, zucchini, beets, and radishes. Brush them with olive oil, then bake at 225 Fahrenheit (107 Celsius) for two hours.
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Homemade energy bars
Power bars are healthy and packed with nutrients, especially those lovingly made at home. You may never want to buy those sugary store-bought bars again! Anna Halliday’s sunflower power bar is featured on Runner’s World. These bars lift your energy, improve immunity, and are rich in antioxidants.
Process oats, dates, and nuts, then add quinoa puffs, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, maca powder, honey, and tehina.
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