Your company’s vending machine is not exactly an ideal place to find nutritious snacks. We have collected some of our favorite go-to’s for when that 3 o’clock hunger pang comes along.
Here are 50 Healthy Snacks that will keep you energized throughout the day.
Sliced Apple with Hummus
Give your body a boost of protein and carbohydrates from this combo. When 3 PM comes around, you start craving a little bit of insulin to get through the rest of the day. Apples and hummus give you the energy you need to make it to quitting time.
PB & J Spoonfuls
If you’re on a gluten-free diet or want to skip the bread altogether, try this combo of peanut butter and jelly, it’s a bit reminiscent of your childhood, and it packs a punch.
Edamame
This sushi restaurant favorite is great because it is low in calories (about 330 calories per serving), but it is also filled with at least 6 percent of your daily intake of vitamins except for vitamin D.
Avocado Toast with an Egg and Sriracha
Avocado toast is all the rage. Put this healthy fat on a piece of whole wheat toast and top it with your favorites. The egg pictured here gives your body protein to stay full longer, and sriracha adds a spicy kick.
Greek Yogurt with Fruit and Honey
Instead of buying presweetened Greek yogurt at the supermarket, make your own. You can control the sweetness by adding as much honey as you would like.
Veggies with Hummus
Hummus is full of weight loss nutrients, including chickpeas, garlic, and olive oil. Instead of eating it with chips or crackers, try crunchy carrots and celery to keep the calorie count low.
Apple Stacks
Are you looking for a creative way to pack nutrients into a tasty snack? Try apple stacks.
Core an apple, cut it into slices, cover the bottom layer with nut butter, sprinkle with granola, add another layer, and repeat until there are no more slices. Wrap it up in a plastic wrap and bring it to work so you can snack during the day.
Oven Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, help to increase satiety, boost digestion, keep blood sugar levels stable, increase protection against disease, and more.
Roasting chickpeas is a crunchy treat. Add spices to give your taste buds something special. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, blot chickpeas with olive oil, and season with salt, garlic salt, cayenne pepper, and whatever seasoning you would like. Then bake for 30-40 minutes, until browned and crunchy.
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Bites
Top multigrain crackers with cucumbers, cream cheese, salt and pepper, and some dill for added flavor for a quick and tasty snack.
Frozen Grapes
Low-calorie snacks that taste good are hard to come by. Frozen grapes are a great treat to keep in your freezer to cure your hunger pangs.
Cottage Cheese with Blueberries
Cottage cheese is full of protein, but it is bland. Add your favorite fruits, like blueberries, for a filling snack.
Hard-boiled Egg
This protein-packed snack is perfect for any time you feel a hunger pang. Boil a few eggs at the beginning of the week so that you can quickly grab something when you’re feeling hungry.
Ants on a Log
If your mom used to pack these in your lunch box in grammar school, she was looking out for your health. Ants on a log are a classic snack made with celery, raisins, and peanut butter. Mix it up with different nut butter and switch the raisins out for dried cranberries.
Bell Pepper Ring
Give plain old eggs a spin by cooking them in the center of a bell pepper. Green veggie is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and B6.
Dates Stuffed with Almonds
Dates are mother nature’s candy. Add some protein to this sweet fruit by stuffing it with almonds or any other nut you desire.
Bell Pepper Slices with Guacamole
Guacamole is full of healthy fats. Don’t ruin your day by using fried chips for your snack. Opt for bell pepper slices or other veggies for crunch.
Pistachios
Pistachios are a very impressive snack that adds high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Toss them in salt and pepper for an added yum factor.
Berries with String Cheese
Both berries and string cheese are low in calories. This tasty treat will lead you to grab some more.
Cucumbers with Greek Yogurt Dressing
Cucumbers make a great substitute for chips. Try a deconstructed version of a greek salad by dipping cucumber slices into some Greek yogurt dressing.
Vitamuffing Vitatop
Pop this vitamin-rich fudgy treat before a morning meeting, and that Danish won’t look so damn good.
Starbucks Skinny Latte
Score your caffeine fix along with a hunger-crushing 10-gram shot of protein and about a third of your daily calcium needs.
Banana
Naturally prepackaged goodness you can take anywhere, with the added benefit of cramp-preventing potassium.
Air Popped Popcorn
Go ahead and nibble mindlessly as you zone out in front of the TV. Even if you’re watching trash, you won’t be eating it. Be careful with the prepacked stuff because it contains all kinds of chemicals you cannot pronounce.
Oatmeal
This speedy fiber- and protein-packed breakfast also makes for a warm, filling snack. Grab a few packets of the instant stuff and keep it at your desk so you don’t end up at the vending machine.
Shrimp Cocktail
This perfect appetizer is low in calories, full of protein, and delicious. No one will know you are counting calories.
Granola Bar
Stash granola bars in your glove box to help you resist the lure of the drive-thru when you’re on the road. Keep an eye out for the contents because some bars hide tons of sugar that will send you crashing.
Turkey Slices
Turkey slices are a great go-to snack. Add a glass of tomato juice to give you antioxidants to finish out your day.
Egg Whites on Whole Wheat Toast
This protein-and-carb duo provides you with a light but energizing start when you have a big lunch on the horizon.
Frozen Yogurt
When you crave a refreshing treat, find dip into some frozen yogurt. Make sure to look at the sugar content before buying. A lot of bad stuff, like sugar, is sometimes added to make up for the lack of flavor.
Dark Chocolate
A cocoa fix that’s equally rich in chocolaty taste and disease-fighting antioxidants—what more could you want in a snack?
Pretzels
Kill your craving with this popular vending machine snack. Try to keep some 100-calorie packs at your desk so that you don’t overindulge.
Caprese Skewers
This lunch box addition will have your coworkers wondering if you are a master chef. Combine mozzarella, grape tomatoes, and basil on a skewer. For added sweetness, pour over a balsamic reduction.
Tuna Salad and Crackers
Canned tuna is a snack too. Add your favorite tuna salad to some multigrain crackers to kill that hunger around 3 PM.
Egg White Breakfast Cups
These tasty treats are ideal for those people who are on the go and need a breakfast they can take with them. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, grab 24 egg whites and mix them with your favorite vegetables like bell pepper, onions, and spinach.
Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray, and divide the mixture equally among the twelve cups. Then bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes before eating. You can freeze the remaining cups after they have cooled and pop them in the microwave whenever you are ready to eat them.
Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon is not exactly the bacon you are used to, but it is a healthier alternative. This option is full of protein and not nearly as much fat.
Mini Babybel Cheese
Whoever created mini Babybel cheeses is a savior. The light version is only 50 calories.
Whole Wheat English Muffin with Almond Butter
Whether you need a quick breakfast or a pick me up during the day, loading half of a whole wheat English muffin with your favorite nut butter will give you the energy you need.
Hot Tea
Hot tea has all kinds of qualities, from healing you from the inside out to curbing your appetite. Try peppermint or matcha tea if you are feeling hungry.
Green Bean Fries
This baked alternative of a TGI Friday’s is a treat.
You should place the green beans into a large bowl, pour olive oil, salt, and spices you like, and a little bit of Parmesan, and stir everything well. Add them to a baking sheet and bake them at 400°F until they turn into chips.
Frozen Blueberry Yogurt Bites
This is another one of our freezer favorites. It is full of protein and antioxidants.
You’re going to need:
- 1-pint container blueberries
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- One teaspoon of stevia (optional)
- Mix the yogurt and the stevia and gently fold the blueberries to coat in the yogurt. Scoop them up with a fork, and place them on a baking sheet, making sure not to have them touch.
- Freeze them for about an hour, and get ready to snack!
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflowers are so addictive that once you start snacking, it’s so hard to stop. Seeds and nuts are not dangerous at all of your daily workouts, and it is low in carbs.
Home Baked Zucchini Chips
If you are missing the crunch of a potato chip, try a zucchini chip instead. Cut the zucchini into thin slices, and toss in a little bit of olive oil, Himalayan salt, and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes on a preheated 450°F.
Broccoli Tot
You won’t miss the potato after you try these babies. You can find broccoli tots in your grocer’s freezer.
Shrimp Summer Rolls
This Vietnamese appetizer is full of all kinds of goodies like shrimp, Thai basil, cucumbers, and more. If you can’t find rice paper to make these at home, go to your local Vietnamese or Thai restaurant and ask if you can buy some from them.
Reduce Fever
This is a great lunch box addition that works for lunch and as a mid-day snack. Make these using thick turkey slices so your cheesy snack wraps are sturdy.
Greek Yogurt Parfait
The beautiful thing about a parfait is you can add whatever you like. Layer yogurt, berries, and granola for a sweet treat to top off your day.
Sweet Potato with Ricotta and Cinnamon
To crush your sweet tooth, scoop half of a small, baked sweet potato into a bowl and top with 1/4 cup of reduced-fat ricotta and a dash of cinnamon.
Graham Cracker with Cream Cheese and Jam
For a sweet snack, reach for two graham cracker rectangles with one tablespoon of cream cheese and two teaspoons of jam.
