Healthy snacking

WHETHER you’re looking to lose a few kilograms or maintain a healthy weight, stocking up on healthy snacks for work is essential. Fueling your body with quality nutrition will increase energy levels, helping you feel more productive, and also stave off fatty and sugary cravings.

1. Fresh fruit: You can’t go wrong with fresh fruit at the office! Instead of being concerned about prep, bring low-maintenance picks like apples, oranges, and pears to the office. Then, all you need to do is wash and eat.

2. Veggies: Bring a tub of baby carrots, celery sticks, or already steamed veggies to the office. You can easily find prepackaged options at your grocery store, but skip the ranch or blue cheese dressing, and opt for a small side of hummus instead to offer your body some protein.

3. Health bars: Unfortunately, not all bars deemed ‘healthy’ are created equal. Look for bars that are relatively low in sugar and high in fiber and protein. If you eat a bar that’s all carbs and sugar, then chances are you’ll experience a crash after eating it, just as if you’d chowed down on a candy bar.

4. Single servings of trail mix: Take the issue of portion control out of the picture, and prepackage small baggies of trail mix or dried fruit and nuts at home. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be able to keep tabs on exactly how much you’re eating.

5. Cheese: Having some cubed cheese on hand is a good idea for the dairy-lovers out there. Cheese brings protein and calcium to your snack-time routine.

6. Whole grain crackers: Whole grain crackers are also a much better idea than snacking on a bag of fried chips, and they offer the crunch you’re looking for. For a perfect midday, post-workout snack, cheese can be served up with some hearty crackers to deliver an ideal blend of protein and carbs.

By making your own trail mix, you can sidestep the unhealthiest elements found in commercially produced trail mixes and make some mix that will

guarantee you nutritionally balanced energy that tastes just great. This recipe makes a very large batch (1.8kg) of extremely addictive

trail mix. This version suits most dietary restrictions and is best eaten in moderation.

Recipe

Homemade Trail Mix

Ingredients

450g of raw, unsalted sunflower seeds

450g of raw, unsalted almonds

450g of white raisins

450g of unsweetened, unsulfured dried pineapple rings

Method

Wash your hands properly in preparation for handling the ingredients. Collect the ingredients together. Get a large bowl or container. Dump in equal portions of white raisins, raw sunflower seeds and raw almonds. Tear the final equal portion of unsweetened, unsulfured dried pineapple rings into bits, however big or small you like. Mix everything thoroughly by hand. Break up any sticky clumps of raisins. The trail mix should be stored like any dry product in plastic ziplock packets or airtight containers.