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One of my favorite traditions before each semester is to restock my office snack stash! My snacks have saved me more times than I can count when I forgot to pack a lunch, or the lunch I had packed was gross, or I stayed for a late program and needed a quick dinner.
The important thing is to have snacks that A) perk you up, both mentally and physically, and B) actually help stop you from feeling hungry. It seems nice to have a family size bag of M&Ms, but you’re still going to be hungry an hour later. Here’s what I always keep on hand:
Chocolate – gives me a mental boost
Granola / mixed nuts – I rotate these and they’re packed with protein
Tuna kits – throw these into your boring salad or eat them on their own
Peanut butter crackers – these help me feel full during the gap between later afternoon and dinner
Instant noodles – forgotten lunch? No problem!
Popcorn – eating the bags of Smartfood white cheddar feels healthier than chips
Coke Zero – it’s a known fact wherever I work that I am addicted to Coke Zero. Lucky I’m doing better at drinking more water, but I still need my caffeine when I have a long day of meetings!
Sparkling water – not gonna lie, I usually drink these when I’m too lazy to go refill my water bottle
You should switch out these for the things you love. For instance, if you don’t drink soda you might opt for bottles of Starbucks fraps, or Pure Leaf green tea. People who are inclined to eat a lot of protein might add beef jerky along with their tuna.
I’m lucky to have a full-sized fridge so I can also keep some healthier snacks like fresh veggies stashed. Sometimes the body just craves good old carrots or broccoli… Some other things to keep stashed in your office to improve your culinary endeavors:
Condiments – if you have a fridge, buy small sizes of ketchup, mayo, soy sauce, etc. from the Dollar Tree. If you don’t have a fridge, grab one or two extra packets from fast food restaurants. One or two…you’re not filling a pool with ketchup…
Napkins – I always have a stash to keep my area tidy
Spices – Besides salt & pepper (usually from disposable utensil packets that come with take out) I actually have an array of spices in my stash. Oregano is a must have for sandwiches, red pepper flakes, everything bagel spice, and a garlic-onion blend. I hate eating leftover chicken breast that’s dried out and bland. You could buy a whole bottle of each spice, or just pour some of the spice you already have into these little containers and bring them to the office.
A plate and utensils – I’ve always been lucky to work in offices that had kitchens and shared tableware available. However, I like knowing that I have the things I need to enjoy my lunch comfortably (and not have to guess what that questionable stuck-on substance is…)
I’m obsessed with being organized, so I bought little baskets to organize my stash. I got the ones in the picture from from the Dollar Tree but they’re similar to these baskets.
Let me know your go-to snacks so I know what to taste test next!
Thanks for stopping by,
Sara