Working Well Resources' Blog

By Sue Shekut, Owner, Working Well Massage, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Wellness Coach, ACSM Personal Trainer

A lot of us find ourselves hitting a slump at about 2:30 or 3 in the average workday. You know the feeling– you’re getting sleepy, finding it hard to concentrate, zoning out on conference calls or in meetings. You may have a craving for something sweet or caffeinated, thinking that it can get you through until the end of the day.

Keeping healthy snacks at work is a great way to counteract those cravings for sugary or caffeinated snacks. Your body is looking for an energy source, but rather than giving it refined sugar (which leads to a bigger “crash” later on), try a low-fat protein-packed snack– you’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel by the end of the day.

The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois provides a great list of healthy snack ideas. It shows that no matter your preference, there’s something healthy that can satisfy you.

Like sweets? Try these goodies: pudding with vanilla wafers, oatmeal-raisin cookies, fig bars, graham crackers or rice cakes with peanut butter, hot chocolate, frozen yogurt, dried fruit, raisin toast, frozen fruit bars, whole fruit sorbet, homemade low-fat bran muffins, whole grain toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas, and sugar-free Jell-O made with fresh fruit and marshmallows.

Here’s the list for you to consider next time you’re at the grocery store:

• One-half of a cantaloupe filled with ½ cup of fat-free yogurt
• A frozen fruit bar and sparkling water
• One low-fat granola bar and a small banana
• A fruit smoothie
• Air-popped popcorn topped with Italian seasonings and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese
• Baked tortilla chips and salsa
• One orange and six animal crackers
• One-half cup of frozen yogurt and a small banana
• Low-fat hummus and pita wedges
• Celery stuffed with low-fat bean dip
• Cinnamon bagel chips and ½ cup fat-free cottage cheese
• Fat-free pretzel stick and 1%, skim or soymilk with chocolate syrup
• One-half cup couscous topped with tomato sauce and ½ teaspoon of Parmesan cheese
• Dried fruit such as apricots, apple rings, or a small box of raisins and a low-fat string cheese stick
• Reduced sodium vegetable juice and two white cheddar popcorn cakes
• Ready-to-eat whole grain cereal with soymilk
• A tortilla rolled up with vegetarian fat-free refried beans and a sprinkle of Mexican blend cheese (heat in the microwave to melt the cheese)
• Apple slices and homemade apple dip
• Ants on a log: celery stick with peanut butter spread in the center, topped with raisins
• Raw sweet potato sticks instead of carrot sticks (carrots sticks are good also!)
• Two Graham cracker sheets with one tablespoon reduced-fat peanut butter
• One medium size low-fat muffin with a juice box or chocolate milk box

Happy snacking!

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