Quick And Healthy Snacks For The Office

Found on Kidscultivation.blogspot.ro

#2 Roasted Chickpeas

Want to replace the usual salty nuts with something more healthy, but still have the desktop snack in the palm of your hand? Try these roasted chickpeas. Chickpeas are such a great way to sneak fiber into your diet. The good part is that this snack is perfect for both sweet snack and salty snack lovers. Roast them in the oven for 45–60 minutes — just before going to the office — then select your seasoning and your done!

Found on Familyfreshmeals.com

#3 The Power Bowl

It’s getting late and you are the only one left in the office? Do you feel tired in the morning after a night out? Coffee might work, but not on the long run. Give a quick try to this power bowl recipe that will put you right back in your feet in no time. Just use 1 medium size container Greek Yogurt, one cup of kefir (any flavor you want, or almond milk if you are vegetarian), a tablespoon of honey and 1/4 of chia seeds. Mix them together in a large Tupperware and let this sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, so that the chia seeds expand.Then, create you parfait by adding whatever toppings you desire! Choose from sliced bananas, blackberries, walnuts, or any other fruits or nuts that you like. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. They will protect you from disease and will give you energy.

Found on Fitfoodiefinds

YOU ALSO HAVE TO TRY: 5 VEGAN DESSERTS

#4 No-bake energy balls

Here is a snack that passes as healthy but tastes good enough that it could replace your dessert! Maybe you would like to try different cake recipes, but mostly they are time-consuming and real calorie bombs. The no-bake version is easy to do and healthy. You need the following ingredients to make this tasty byte: 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1/3 cup honey, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 cup oats and 2/3 cup shredded coconut. I could not stop myself and added some chocolate chips as well, but it will have the same great taste even without them.

Once you have all the ingredients ready stir together peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly coated. Transfer mixture to refrigerator or freezer and chill until set. After 15 minutes remove from refrigerator and shape into 1-inch balls.

Be careful: these might be addictive!

Found on CookingClassy

#5 Cottage cheese and apples

If we had simple snacks before, this is something even a kid could do! Yes, your kid including. It’s as easy as slicing an apple is. If apples are not really your thing replace them with two drained cinnamon-spiced apple rings and just add some cottage cheese (you can find that in low-fat as well). This combo provides protein, calcium and fiber so nothing to lose, except for a few extra pounds. Try this as a pre-workout snack if you want to look and feel like a champion.

Found on blog.mass.gov

#6 Greek yogurt with raspberries and honey

Eat more, weigh less!

If you’re sacrificing snacks to cut calories, stop—to lose weight, you need snacks. “Snacking is an opportunity to fuel your body between meals,” says nutritionist Rania Batayneh, author of The One One One Diet. Combine a single container of greek yoghurt, a cup of raspberry and a half-tablespoon of honey and you will enchant your senses. Honey alleviates allergies, boosts memory and helps our digestive and immune system. Moreover the Vitamin C contained in raspberries  increases your body’s fat-burning ability, according to research in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Feel free to add some cereals and boost the fiber in this amazing dessert.

Found on eat-yourself-skinny.com

#7 Wheat thins with mediterranean hummus

Now this is the closest you can get to your regular sandwich. Wheat thins are high in fiber and low in calories and they go with more or less everything. Try them with fresh tomato and olive oil, with pesto and ricotta and why not, with avocado and last but not least hummus. You can find all the ingredients at your regular food store, but you can also prepare some at home. All you need for hummus is canned chickpeas, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, garlic and olive oil. You can feel free to add paprika, tahini or cumin. Enjoy!

Found on 12news.com. Photo by Jan D’Atri

#8 Cottage cheese-filled avocado

You must be thinking: Stop with this cottage cheese already! Well, I won’t! It’s tasty, it’s healthy and you can buy the non-fat version. For this rich and creamy snack all you have to is remove the pit from one half of an avocado and fill it with cottage cheese. Make sure the avocado is mellow before you serve it. Also, be prepared, 9 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber are coming your way! Can you handle it?

Found on Thestripedstrawberry.com

 #9 Veggies in a Blanket

Sounds good and trust me it tastes good! When I first prepared this I thought to myself: It can’t get any easier than this! You just need 2 floor tortillas (you can try the brown rice ones if you want to full healthy threat), 2 tablespoons of cream cheese, 1 grated carrot and 2 lettuce/spinach leaves and green/red onion. After you prepared everything warm tortillas in a dry pan. Spread cream cheese on them and add your vegetables. Now you can roll them up and take them with you to work or wrap in plastic wrap for snacking later.

Don’t forget – you can always spice up this recipe using sweet red pepper, chilli or some fresh basil. Also, you don’t have to leave the other vegetables alone in the fridge: let those cucumbers, the tomatoes, the zucchini join the Blanket party. If you are up for some extra protein add 1 boiled egg and get ready for a productive day.

Found on bbc.co.uk

#10 The nuts bowl

A classic that makes me go nuts – that’s how much I love it! The mix of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber will help you too feel full and suppress your appetite. Still, there are some things you need to know. Not all the nuts are indicated for your health and diet. The lowest-calorie nuts are: almonds, cashews and pistachios. Just make sure you limit your portions max 1 bowl/day. Avoid nuts packaged or roasted in oil, instead eat them raw or dry roasted. Macadamia nuts and pecans have the more calories and less protein. That doesn’t mean you have to throw them out, as long as you’re practicing proper portion control and not downing handfuls at a time. Mix them and enjoy them, I am sure your body will!

Found on UPMC – Myhealthmatters

#11 Smoothie addiction

You might not consider this a snack in the real sense of the word (or “It’s not crunchy so I don’t want it), but trust me, your body will thank you later. There are different things you can mix here but try to keep in mind the basics:

• Fruit smoothies are more effective if consumed in the morning! Fruits contain natural sugar and give you a lot of energy that you will need throughout the day. Don’t fall in the dried fruit trap, you should always go for the fresh options.
• Veggie smoothies – yummy – you can have these all the time. Since you don’t have to cook the veggies in order to smooth them you get the full vitamin pack untouched.
• Dairy or no dairy? This choice is all on you! Make sure you explore all the options out there. You can pick from soy milk, almond milk, lactose-free milk or you can go with the lactose product to mix your ingredients together. You see, we live in a world of infinite possibilities AND MILK! If milk altogether does not suit your choices just replace it with plain yoghurt, or with water for that matter. Add some lime/lemon for extra flavour.

Just to make things simpler I’m going to offer you a glimpse on the special recipes I use, maybe you will try them yourself. Keep the smoothie in the fridge and just take it with you when you go to work.

     Banana Berry Power                                                                                  Hawaiian Silk

     1/2 Banana                                                                                                              1 Banana

    1/4 cups Orange Juice                                                                                           1 tbsp Coconut Milk

   1 1/2 tbsp Protein Powder                                                                                      2 tbsp Dry Milk, non-fat

   1/4 cups Strawberries                                                                                              1/2 cups Pineapple Juice

   1/2 cups Yogurt, plain low-fat                                                                                1 cup Soy Milk

PS: Blend all ingredients until smooth. Have fun!

FOR MORE DELICIOUS OPTIONS CLICK HERE!

Found on Care2.com

#12 Watermelon Feta Bites

This should be on your TO EAT list because it’s perfect for the sunny days. The watermelon brings you the fresh taste of summer and together with the feta it turns a normal snack into a refreshing delight.

It only takes you 10 minutes to prepare and I assure you this time is now wasted. Get 1 cup of watermelon cubes ready, 1/2 ounce feta cheese cut into small cubes, 1/4 cup mint leaves and 1-2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar.

Now use a toothpick to skewer one watermelon cube, a mint leaf and a small piece of feta cheese. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar before serving. Repeat until all your colleagues or friends are happy.

Found on Bites of Bri

#13 Apple Sandwiches

I found this recipe online and I was amazed by this easy to prepare healthy sandwich. Sweet, crispy and delicious, this treat can be an option for kids as well. Just grab an apple, slice it crosswise, and then use a large pastry tip to punch a hole through the centre to make an ‘apple bagel’ slice.Then just layer on peanut butter, granola, coconut, raisins, chocolate chips and any other thing you desire. Prepare to bite and be dazzled.

Found on ohsheglows.com

These are just some of the things that you can prepare in a very short time and with very little effort. Like every other art, cooking implies creativity,passion and interest. No need to stay in the kitchen for hours, just improvise and I’m sure you are going to impress all your colleagues.

I encourage you to find inspiration everywhere around you. Have fun and keep fresh!

 Which are you favorite snacks to eat at the office?

Share them in a comment below!