Healthy Office Snacks to Beat the Afternoon Slump

Hi! I'm Ella from YuBi and I'm here to stop gate keeping my afternoon snacks. I love a snack as much as the next guy, but when I'm trying to make better choices, I am sabotaged by my brains fascination with a little sweet treat. To combat this, I've been on a mission to find the best healthy office snacks that fit both in my desk and my diet really well. 

If you're anything like me, 3pm on a weekday rolls around and you're already wishing it was time for tea (or dinner. Supper if you're fancy). I'm sat at my computer, lunch feels like a lifetime ago and I would do anything for a slice of double chocolate cake, but I know this wouldn't end well for me. This is where my desk snacks come in. 

What is a healthy office snack?

Now, this is completely subjective. What is a healthy office snack to me might not be a healthy office snack for you, and that's okay. For me, it's something satisfying, preferably sweet and low calorie but also office friendly. I'm pescetarian, so if I do fancy something savoury, nothing meat related (and I'm not having fish at my desk because that's just selfish). And personally, I much prefer it to be available in my desk drawer and not the fridge, otherwise it's not really a desk snack, but a snack that I eat at my desk. I hope we're on the same page.

Anyway, let's dive in.

Banana Chips

I really went through a banana chip phase at the beginning of the year as they were introduced to me by a friend. I weighed out 30g (otherwise I would eat the whole bag) and always looked forward to them as my afternoon pick-me-up. I found the crunch really satisfying, although sometimes when the office was particularly quiet, it made me cringe a bit. 8/10

Dried Fruit

You can get bags of these from Aldi for a very reasonable price. My favourites are the strawberries (they're a lot lower in sugar and calories) and the mango (chewy and really tasty, but a lot higher in sugar so I don't get these as often). I know I could just have a strawberry or some mango, but they won't live harmoniously in my desk drawer for weeks on end. 7.5/10

YuBi Bars 

Always a great idea. I may be biased but you just have to trust me on this one. They're 99 calories (so when I am calorie counting, they don't break the bank), low sugar and they help me hit my protein goals, too. Plus, with so many flavours to choose from, there is something for anything I'm craving, but my favourites are definitely Choc Orange and Honeycomb. I also have a very convenient stash in the content studio but either way, very very reasonably priced. Why would you pay £3 for a mediocre protein bar when you can get a delicious one for just over £1? 10/10, no notes.

Rice Cakes

Any flavour you like, but I'm quite boring and normally just get the salt and vinegar ones. I've heard the chocolate ones are nice though. My favourite thing about them is probably the size of them; they take quite a while to eat compared to other things which gives them a bonus point. Minus that point for the crumbs, though. 7/10

Fruit Winders

We're getting into primary school territory here but hear me out. Nostalgic, interesting to eat and they're the perfect sweetness. They're also made with fruit which is always nice. I've tried to share these with other people in the office but they haven't quite mastered how to get them off the greaseproof paper without making a mess. I think it's sort of a pollice verso thing; the Winder decides if you succeed or not. More for me I guess. 9.5/10

Bear Snacks

I'm fairly new to these. I think they are also primary school territory but they're more of a fancy version of a Fruit Winder. I would say they're an adult Fruit Winder but they come with collectable cards, so. They remind me of School Bars back in the day (if you know, you know) and I do like a nostalgic snack. A bit more on the expensive side. 7/10

Nuts

Preferably walnuts, however my desk neighbour is deadly allergic so I have to be careful with that one and wash my hands thoroughly afterwards. I hear they're good for brain health which is always good, I just feel like I can't have them as often so I don't put desk neighbour at risk. That would be a terrible way to lose him. 6.5/10

Bonus Entry: Chewing Gum

Not really a snack, I know, but it goes in my mouth. Once said desk snack has been enjoyed, sometimes I like a Wrigley's or 3 to take the edge off. It gets me through to 4pm. 10/10

Yes, desk snacks are great and they give me a little extra joy in the afternoon, but they aren't the only thing that allow me to keep my goals in check. Making sure I'm eating enough protein and drinking enough water throughout the day is paramount, otherwise all the desk snacks will be eaten in a oner. Meal prepping my lunch and always carrying a water bottle with me have really helped ensure that I hit my targets every day. 

Thanks for reading! Funnily enough, it's desk snack time.