Desk Snacks
A long day working from home can play havoc with your diet – for some this might include eating unhealthy snacks or eating too many snacks yet for others this might be not snacking enough to keep going themselves going between meals. It is very common to feel hungry when stressed, tired or bored and this can lead to poor snacking choices which can then affect your energy levels, mood and even lead to weight gain and hormonal imbalances. For some people too much snacking can make you feel more and more hungry.
Why snack?
In general, if we eat three regular, nutritionally balanced meals a day we don’t necessarily need to snack in between these meals, but in reality, we sometimes struggle to achieve this each day with all the other pressures going on in life. Healthy snacking is useful when we have expended lots of energy and it can be very helpful in supporting your blood sugar levels to avoid any spikes and slumps throughout the working day.
Tips
Be prepared – don’t wait until you are extremely hungry to then think about what snack you might like as you will be more likely to reach for ‘quick fix’ sugary foods. Mid to late afternoon is a common time for people to do get the munchies but try and recognise when your hunger slumps occur and plan for this.
Stay hydrated, as often we mistake being thirsty with being hungry – see tips on healthy drinks for more info
If you suspect you might be an emotional eater, for example when you are stressed or bored, try keeping a food and mood diary for a couple of weeks to see if you can recognise any triggers and patterns.
Quick and healthy snack suggestions
A small handful of nuts or seeds (unsalted and unsweetened)
Crudités – slices of peppers, carrots, celery, cucumber
Apple
Berries
Wholegrain cracker with a slice of cheese (low fat such as Edam or mature cheddar or vegan equivalent)
Oatcake (no added sugar) with hummus
Most shop bought nut/seed/muesli/flapjack bars and energy balls contain a lot of sugar despite their health claims – it is okay to eat these occasionally but making these yourself with reduced or natural sugars is a better alternative and easy to make for even the most reluctant cook!
Avoid cakes, biscuits, confectionary and other sugary/processed snacks.
In summary…
During the working day be prepared with healthy snacks and remember to keep hydrated.
© C Spurling BA (Hons) Dip ION
© GS Method