The infamous mid-afternoon energy lull effects even the best of us. A study has shown that the least productive time of day is 2.55pm (which ironically is when cat video views boom!) and lethargy and tiredness creeps in. This is the time you need to get up from your desk, move your feet, grab a drink, and more importantly – eat some brain food!
So what are the best things to eat when you encounter this dip in motivation? Read my list of top 10 office snacks that can get you back in the zone to take full advantage of your last few hours at work:
1) A banana:
Ahh, the old classic office snack, the banana. The banana is 100 calories of goodness, and perfect for getting your through the afternoon. Bananas are a very good source of vitamin B6 and a good source of manganese, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, potassium, biotin, and copper. Why WOULDN’T you eat a banana?
2) Almonds:
As well as being darn delicious, almonds are equally as nutritious! Almonds can actually reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, and they can lower your cholesterol. Almonds are packed full of Vitamin E, which is proven to boost brain power and can even prevent Alzheimer’s. They are also the perfect snack to keep at your desk as they can’t go bad or go stale.
3) Carrots and hummus:
This one takes a bit of preparation, but is definitely worth it! Carrot and hummus is a healthy snack that will tide you over until hometime, or it could even be a part of a balanced lunch! Carrots will leave you feeling refreshed and the hummus is protein rich so will keep you fuller for longer.
4) A cheesestring:
As well as being an incredibly fun, handheld snack, cheesestrings are crammed full of calcium and protein. Cheese also contains an amino acid called tyrosine, which is actually proven to make us feel happier! Wooohoo for cheesestrings!
5) Biscuits:
It’s all well and good eating healthy food in the office, but sometimes biscuits are the only answer. Keep a biscuit tin full of your favourite sweet snacks and have one when you need a pick-me-up. Don’t eat them all at once though!
6) Yogurts:
I’m sure you’ve all heard about the benefits of eating yogurts from the dancing ladies on TV adverts, but i’ll tell you all once more! Yogurt is packed full of protein and calcium and includes nutrients such as vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium and magnesium to name a few. It’s an easy snack to keep in the office fridge and snack on when you’re peckish. Just don’t forget your spoon!
7) Dried strawberries:
If you’ve never tried dried strawberries before, you are missing out! When buying dried fruit, make sure you check the ingredients as sometimes unnecessary ingredients are added for taste. Dried strawberries are particularly nice, and perfect for those with a sweet tooth!
8) Seaweed:
This is definitely more of an unusual choice but is becoming more and more popular with the health conscious. Snack packs of dried seaweed are now widely available in supermarkets and grocery stores. They are high in fibre and protein and a whole packet is usually only about 25 calories!
9) Fruit and nut bars:
If you’re looking for a mid afternoon pick-me-up, fruit and nut bars are a great option! There are so many options to choose from when buying your bars but, but why no make your own? This way you can add all your favourite things but still monitor the ingredients that go into your bars. You can find two great healthy fruit and nut bar recipes here and here.
10) Blueberries:
It’s official, blueberries = brain food! Why not keep some blueberries on hand to ease your hunger? It’s scientifically proven that blueberries can improve your memory and keeping it stronger for longer. Some researchers have even claimed that eating blueberries can even reverse some age-related memory loss. Get yourself some blueberries, pronto!
Have you got any other office snacks you’d recommend to others? If you do, make sure you let us know!
