A Vegan's Guide to Snacking in the Office
How to Avoid Salty Chips and Sweet Sodas and Eat Healthy on Break
Jun 11, 2009
It's that time again. Lunch time is over, but there are still hours left of work to get through. The vending machine is calling, but don't pull out those quarters; there are plenty of healthy snacks to get you through a day at the office.
The Salty
Salty snacks offer so much to exhausted workers—they're usually crunchy, savory, and loaded flavorings. For a savory snack that stays within the healthy zone try:
- Hummus- hummus is good almost everywhere. Hummus on a wrap, hummus on a bagel, you name it. For a great snack post-lunch, try some hummus with crunchy veggies such as baby carrots and celery; it's super portable and super tasty.
- Unsalted nuts- nuts are even better without all the salt and oil. Pick some raw and/or unsalted nuts at a local health food store and stash them away in a desk drawer for sudden snack attacks.
- Chickpeas- for another great snack idea, check out this recipe from vegweb.com.
- Popcorn- making popcorn to take to work is healthier than buying the packages in supermarkets; is is also easy to veganize this recipe by leaving out the butter.
The Sweet
If a sweet snack in the afternoon is what really picks you up, try some of these alternatives to the vending machine candy bar:
- Fruit- an array of fresh fruit will make any sweet tooth happy. Apples nutritious, offer a nice crunch, and are sweet enough to replace sugary snacks. Other good options are small, fresh berries such as raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
- Dark chocolate- Yes, it is okay to indulge in a small piece (or two) of dark chocolate for those mid-afternoon slumps; it is almost always vegan and contains antioxidants.
- Granola or protein bars- it is true that these can actually be pretty unhealthy, so look for those with the least amount of ingredients and those that contain fruit.
The Caffeinated
Some people don't want any food in the afternoons, all they want is more coffee. While coffee too has some health benefits, drinking several cups a day to get through work is not a healthy idea. Instead of coffee in the afternoons, try some of these suggestions:
- Tea- try some herbal tea instead of coffee. There are tons of varieties to choose from, but stay far from anything with "sleep" or "unwind" in the name.
- Walking- Sometimes just taking a walk around the office is better than downing another cup of joe. Although this isn't not a food suggestions, it is useful to those craving coffee for energy in the afternoons.
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