If you want to fire up your metabolism and keep it running at top speed, you probably need to eat MORE. Yes, I said it. Eat more… Having snacks throughout the day will keep putting your body back into burning mode rather than a resting mode.

But what does that mean if you are working 9-5 (or more!) and you’re flat out all day? You need to prepare snacks to have at your desk or when you’re on the road. Here are a few healthy snacks to get your body into burning mode and also keep you satisfied and focused during your work day!

1. Fruit

Fruits are a great way to keep your blood sugar regulated throughout the day, to help kick the sweet cravings that might hit you mid-afternoon AND have lots of fiber to keep you full until your next meal. The best options here are berries, apples and bananas.

PS. If anyone tells you that fruit has too much sugar, throw an apple at them.

2. Nuts

Avoid the 3pm slump and snack on mixed nuts instead. Nuts are chock full of fibre & fats, so they will help you feel full as well as helping you get to your weight loss goals. (Fats make you full, not fat!)

I buy unsalted almonds, cashews and walnuts, mixed them with chia, pepita & sunflower seeds and keep them in my bottom draw at work. I’ll eat them on some yoghurt or as they are. Give it a shot – it will help you avoid the vending machine or that box of donuts that Annie from accounts brought in!

3. Veggies with hummus & cottage cheese

First, start with your favourite raw veggies (cucumber, carrot & snowpeas for me) and cut into matchsticks.

Then, dip them into either hummus & cottage cheese or even guacamole!

Veggies have mega amounts of nutrients, and the hummus & cottage cheese are both super high in protein & fats, both of which keep us full! What a beautiful balance – veggies (carbs), hummus (protein) and cottage cheese (fat) – all of the important macronutrients. Just remember to leave the skins of your veggies on!

Bonus: You just got in an extra serve of veggies – how easy was that!

4. Protein bar

Protein bars are a great option if you’re looking for a quick grab and go snack. Be careful of added ingredients as a lot of protein bars marketed as “healthy” can be packed with loads of sugar. Keep an eye out for bars that have ingredients you can actually pronounce, and try to keep it at 10 or less ingredients.

Two great brands that have a great rep for being high protein and low sugar are Quest & Maxines. If you’re new to protein bars, probably start off with the Almond Bounce Ball before trying the other brands.

5. Yoghurt

If you’re looking for a good mid-morning snack to help tide you over, yoghurt is a great option. It has twice the protein than regular yoghurt, is rich in probiotics, and is packed with calcium, potassium, protein, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12. It’s a win win, win win win win haha.

Can’t tolerate dairy? Try coconut yoghurt. Actually, even if you can tolerate dairy, try it anyway. I love it! I eat coyo with nuts & seeds at my desk almost everyday between brekky & lunch.

Try adding these five snacks into your work day, and see how much more focused and alert you are when you aren’t reaching for a kit kat at 3pm.

Or have you already tried any of these snacks at work? Which are your favorite? Let me know below!

Deanna