Snacks are an important part of office life. You wouldn't expect a car to run well when it's very low on fuel, so why do that to your brain and body? Whether you've missed breakfast or simply can't wait until lunch, a quick bite delivers the energy boost you need.
Then there are those days when you feel stressed or bored when eating helps pass the time or bring some comfort. Or the cakes and goodies that appear whenever there's a birthday to celebrate. Let's not even mention Christmas!
If you're not careful, a simple office snacking habit can turn into a bad habit.
Navigating the minefields of office snacking temptations can be pretty tricky. Typical goodies on offer are high in calories and can contribute to weight gains or poor health. But these things are difficult to dodge unless you have Olympic level self-control!
Take control with these office snack hacks,
#1 Be prepared
Preparation means keeping snack foods around that suit your circumstances. This is especially useful for vegans or those following a gluten or lactose-free diet. Keeping something wrapped with a long shelf life handy means you aren't left out of communal snacking moments.
Ideas for convenient, long life office snacks
Find a space in your desk for energy bars, breakfast biscuits, rice cakes, lunchbox sized malt loaf or fruit loaf bars, dried fruit, nuts, and popcorn. Small-sized chocolate bars are another popular desk drawer staple.
#2 Choose appropriate snacks
Be realistic about what kind of snacks you can have to hand. Some snacks require boiling water, refrigeration, or a microwave, so plan your snack strategies around available resources.
Fruit is generally healthy, but it doesn't work in every office space. Keeping small quantities, and choosing fruits that are easy to eat, are good strategies.
Avoid anything that will decompose quickly and attract fruit flies. Nobody needs that kind of attention! On this topic, be careful about choosing crisps too, as they are noisy to eat and leave a greasy residue on your hands.
Ideas for appropriate office snacks
Convenient hot snacks that need hot water or a microwave include cup noodles, portable porridge pots, and instant soups. A microwave cake in a mug mix is handy for those indulgent moments.
Bananas, small oranges, or any fruit with protective skin is a good choice.
#3 Scope out the office fridge
If you have access to a shared fridge, make sure you want to use it. Is the refrigerator clean? Are there any problems with food being stolen? Will the domestic staff empty it at random times? A good fridge creates more snack options, but it needs to be reliable and safe.
Don't be shy about clearly labelling your food. Some people prefer to store food in a non-transparent container to avoid casual unwelcome sampling. Perhaps in some cases, out of sight might mean out of mind.
Ideas for appropriate shared fridge snacks
Invest in a plastic storage box to keep your fridge goodies cool. Great snacks to fill it with include yoghurts, mini cheeses, sliced peppers or cucumbers, hummus, plum or cherry tomatoes, and overnight oats.
It's wise to avoid foods with powerful smells, like eggs or garlic, unless they are very well sealed.
#4 Make your snacks
Making your snacks is an excellent way to control exactly what goes into them. There are plenty of online recipes for protein-rich snacks, from basic bags of nuts and seeds to flapjacks and protein bars.
Ideas for appropriate homemade snacks
Protein balls are a nutritious, high protein snack that anyone can make. The basic recipe only needs your choice of nut butter, porridge oats, honey or maple syrup and, if you have it, some protein powder. You can add seeds, nuts, dried fruits or chocolate as you wish, and they don't even need to be cooked.
Flapjacks are another oaty based snack that's easy to make at home. While for those who prefer to graze and pick at snacks, there's trail mix. Make this by simply mixing your choice of nuts, chocolate chips and dried fruit – like raisins, chopped dried apricots, dried cherries or cranberries, into a container. It's ready to eat as you want it.
#5 Remember, it's okay not to eat something
Avoiding office snacking can be pretty awkward sometimes. So don't even try. Stop making excuses or sharing your reasons for refusing that birthday cupcake or Xmas cookie; just take it. You don't always have to eat it right at that moment.
When the right moment pops up, which means being discreet, simply dispose of it. Stay on the ball, though. If you've hidden cake in a desk drawer, you don't want to forget it's there!
Ultimately, snacking at work is something most of us will experience at some time. The trick is to make sure your snacks are affordable, convenient, practical, and healthy – if that matters. Of course, they should also be something you will actually enjoy eating.