8 Healthy Low-Carb Snacks For The Work Day
Written by Ben Robinson
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Whether you’re working from home or at an office, you probably don’t have time to cook a real lunch. Sure, you could pop a cup-o-noodles in the microwave, but that’s definitely not a healthy meal.
We have good news: there are some foods that are quick, healthy, and even energizing. Here are a few of our favorites.
Hard Nuts
Hard nuts like almonds of pecans give you an unbelievably wide array of fortifying vitamins like protein, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, calcium… the list goes on.
They also have fewer calories than other softer nuts like peanuts. Make sure you eat the nuts in moderation, though, or they could get quite fattening. Doctors recommend 1.5 ounces.
Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate with minimal sugar added is actually very healthy.
The chocolate you’re probably used to has a bunch of flavorings added, sugar, and milk being the main two, which makes it taste like a sweet delight.
The kind of chocolate we are talking about does not have many additions, and the taste is like the difference between black coffee and coffee with loads of milk and sugar in it.
In any case, real dark chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants, lowers blood pressure, and contains lots and lots of nutrients.
Protein Shakes
A handheld blender and a minifridge stocked with a few healthy ingredients is a quick recipe for a healthy and satisfying lunch. Keeping one on your desk at home or in the office is a compact way to eat right.
Just toss in a few pieces of cut-up fruit, a splash of milk or greek yogurt, and maybe even something extra like a glob of nut butter or a spoon of granola. Blend for a few seconds, and voila! You’ve just whipped up a killer lunch.
As a bonus, throw in a little bit of protein powder. It will help energize you immediately and build muscle in the long term. It will also keep you from getting hungry for quite a while afterward.
Jerky
An essential component of healthy workplace food is a high protein to low-calorie ratio, and jerky is one of the best foods in that department. One ounce has eight grams of protein and only 70 calories, which is pretty high.
Jerky also contains a lot of iron, which is good for keeping up energy levels.
Pork, chicken, turkey, and salmon are all healthy and delicious varieties of jerky. Before you buy, take a look at the ingredient list and try to get one that doesn’t have too many listed.
Water
Good old’ fashioned H2O does one job really well: hydration. Staying hydrated is hugely important when it comes to keeping you feeling awake and alert. Most adults are dehydrated 90% of the time, and if you are not, then you will have a considerable advantage over others in working productively.
We’d recommend against going for vitamin waters. They do contain electrolytes to help you stay energized, but they also have artificial sugars; you don’t need to be consuming. We’d instead recommend boosting your energy more naturally, as our next suggestion offers.
Grilled Turkey Breast
Chopped turkey breast is widely available in grocery stores and delis.
It’s almost devoid of calories and is very filling, meaning only a few slices can take you through your workday.
Turkey breast is also chock-full of niacin and B6, two nutrients that will give you an energy boost.
Nut Butter
If you’re craving something sticky and gooey, walnut butter is the healthy way to go.
It’s packed with protein and healthy fats just like other nut butters, so it will keep you full for a long time.
It’s also the lowest-calorie nut butter out there, so you don’t have to feel guilty. Again, though, don’t overdo it.
Of course, you’ll want to find something healthy to spread your walnut butter on. We’d recommend apple slices.
HOMEMADE Granola
Granola is incredibly rich in fiber. But commercial brands tend to add sugar and other flavorings that counteract the positive health benefits it provides.
The best way to go is to make your own. It takes 30-60 minutes to make a batch, but it lasts forever. So just make a big bag of it to keep in your desk drawer.
Here’s a healthy recipe for homemade granola.
These are a few of our favorite snacks, but why don’t you create your own using this list as a jumping-off point? A few minutes over the stove in the evening will allow you to create some excellent fuel for your workdays. Maybe take some almonds and coat them in unsweetened dark chocolate, for instance.
Or watch this video for more ideas:
IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE HEALTHY WORKPLACE SNACKS THAT YOU DON’T SEE MENTIONED HERE, LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION!
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