13 Smart Snacks to Keep at Your Desk

By , SparkPeople Staff
Hunger doesn't always stick to a schedule, especially during the workday. Your lunch break might be scheduled for noon, but your appetite doesn't always get that memo! Hunger can interfere with your ability to focus on important tasks, and it can make you cranky (or worse, hangry!), which can certainly affect your relationships with your co-workers. That means you gotta get that hunger in check even when you can't leave your desk. So keep healthy snacks on hand to stay on track with your diet and on task at the office!  

Here are 13 nutritious and filling (yet low-calorie) foods that travel well. Some can be stored in your desk, while others need to be stored in the fridge or an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack until you're ready to eat.

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Snack Calories
1 ounce low-sodium jerky 80 calories
1 container Yoplait Light* 90 calories
1 chewy granola bar 110 calories
1 ounce whole-wheat crackers and 1 ounce reduced-fat cheese* 175 calories
1 protein bar 190 calories
1 slice whole-wheat bread with 1 Tablespoon almond butter and 1 Tablespoon jelly 185 calories
1 ounce hummus and 1 cup carrots* 95 calories
1 medium apple and 1 Tablespoon peanut butter 165 calories
1 packet flavored instant oatmeal 160 calories
1 serving heat-and-eat broth-based soup 70 calories
1 medium piece fruit: apple, orange or banana 70-100 calories
1 single-serve cup unsweetened applesauce 50 calories
1 oz trail mix 130 calories
* Store in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack until ready to eat.

By having a snack or two on hand, you'll be able to avoid the late afternoon mad dash to the vending machine and the crippling "this-meeting-ran-late-and-I-have-no-time-to-eat" hunger that often hits unexpectedly. Plus, being known in the office as the person who always has healthy food to share might win you some brownie points!

What are your favorite snacks to keep with you at work?

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