Are you struggling to know what snacks to eat throughout the day to keep hunger at bay until your next mealtime? If this sounds like you, then this week’s blog post is for you!
I’m regularly asked by people who work in offices what they can tuck into before lunch or in the afternoon. So here are my 11 Simple Plant-Based Snacks to Enjoy at Work.
- Toasted whole meal pitta bread, cut into strips. Delicious on their own, or take some of your homemade salsa or houmous with you and use to dip. Word of warning… if you tend to spill liquids be careful you don’t spill it on your computer keyboard!
- Cauliflower and broccoli florets broken up into smaller bite size pieces are great to pack into a container and take to work with you. You can then snack on them throughout the morning.
- Fruit! Cut up a fresh pineapple or melon the night before, put them into a container in the fridge and take them with you in the morning in a small cooler bag.
Remember to pack a fork as you don’t want sticky fingers all over your keyboard!
- Frozen grapes. These make a great morning snack if you’ve packed them in a cooler bag. They’re deliciously refreshing.
- Sweet potato crsips. Slice them thinly either using a knife or a mandolin. Place them evenly (no overlapping) on a baking tray that is lined with greaseproof / parchment paper. Place in the oven and bake at 180 degree c for about 10 minutes then turn. Bake on the other side for another 10 minutes. Keep a check on them to make sure they don’t burn.
You can add additional flavouring’s such as fresh rosemary or cayenne pepper just before you put them into the oven.
There’s no need to use oil or salt, or to peel them.
- Kale crisps. I love these! I can eat a whole bag in a sitting. Here’s how to make them. Cut the kale into bite size pieces, wash, shake of the excess water then place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof / parchment paper. Make sure they don’t overlap. Sprinkle with your choice of seasoning – I use nutritional yeast and cayenne pepper. Bake for about 7 minutes at 180 degrees c, shake them, then bake for another 7 minutes. Shake them, and make sure they’re not burning. Take them out of the oven and let them cool before digging in.
- Homemade air-popped popcorn means that you’ve skipped the oil from commercial brands. Top it with garlic salt or nutritional yeast.
- Banana – the original snack food. Delicious on its own or spread on toast or squashed on a wholemeal roll.
- Freshly peeled carrots, chopped into batons make a great snack. They’re also great for using to dip into the homemade houmous and salsa.
- Roasted chick-peas. These are super easy to make. Make sure you use cooked chickpeas, drain and rinse them then pat dry with kitchen roll. Place on a baking tray that is lined with greaseproof / parchment paper, making sure they’re evenly spread on the paper. Place in the oven and bake at 180 degrees c for about 15 minutes then check them. Give them a shake then continue to roast for another 15 minutes. (You may find they need a bit longer as I use a fan-assisted oven.) Remove from the oven once they’re roasted then season. I use dried cumin and coriander. You can use whatever flavouring’s you fancy.
- Corn thins. I buy Rude Health corn thins as they use organic corn, some sea salt and that’s it – they’re moreish!
Please note that I use a fan-assisted oven so you may have to decrease the cooking time.
To finish up…
Remember, you can eat as many snacks as you want throughout the day as long as they’re plant-based. Ask yourself, is this a whole food and is this a plant or animal. If you can say it’s a whole food and a plant then you’re alright to eat it.
Remember to stay away from nuts, seeds, olives, coconuts and avocados if you’re trying to lose weight, cut your cravings for fat or want to reverse heart disease.
Also make sure that no oil has been used in the cooking or preparation of them.
So there you have my top 11 Simple Plant-Based Snacks to Enjoy at Work.
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