It happens to the best of us. You start out the day full of energy ready to face the day, and then lunch rolls around and you’ve used your last bit of energy. Suddenly it’s mid-afternoon and you’re hungry again, and dinner isn’t for hours.
If you work in an office, you know there’s always that ONE coworker that’s always bringing in homemade cookies and cupcakes and they’re SO easy to grab around 3 p.m. when the munchies hit. The good news? There are plenty of quick snacks that will keep you satisfied and won’t undo the hours you’ve been spending in the gym. They key is to reach for snacks with protein and fiber.
Here are a few we recommend stashing in your desk drawer:
1. DIY Trail Mix
Snacks that offer variety will keep your taste buds happy while your body gets the energy it needs. Instead of buying premade mixes you can easily make your own to avoid a ton of added salt and sugar.
Throw together a homemade assortment of your favorite nuts and dried fruits – almonds are high in protein and fiber and also give you an added boost of vitamin E and antioxidants. Tis the season and pumpkin seeds are another great choice, they pack high amounts of zinc and magnesium which will give you even more of an energy boost. For the fruit, look for ones with little to no added sugar like apricots, figs and prunes.
You’ve probably heard egg white omelets praised for being a healthy source of protein, and now you can take your favorite egg whites on the go! Quevos is the protein and fiber packed snack you’ve been missing. With four tasty flavors, you’ve got a grab ‘n go snack that is minimally processed, low sugar, high-protein and free of preservatives.
3. Roasted Chickpeas
An alternative to hummus, roasted chickpeas are a great snack that you can flavor to your preference. They are high in fiber, protein, potassium and Vitamin C and are delicious on their own or dusted with cinnamon or cocoa powder.
4. Peanut Butter and Banana
There’s a reason this has been a standby for years! Peanut butter is high in protein and healthy fats and bananas satisfy your sweet tooth naturally, while giving you extra potassium.