Snacking at your desk

smruggles
smruggles Posts: 20 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What kinds of snacks do you bring/prepare for work to avoid vending machine snacking or grabbing a candy bar? I've been eating steamed green beans for lunch... but I find myself hungry again at about 2pm. Help!

Sarah
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Replies

  • toronto_j
    toronto_j Posts: 206 Member
    Only steamed green beans for lunch? You need a more complete meal, plus you need some protein to keep you full. Some snack ideas - Greek yogurt, nuts (but watch your serving size), hummus with veggies, fruit w/ peanut butter, granola or protein bars (can also be homemade), boiled eggs.
  • Kitship
    Kitship Posts: 579 Member
    Hmmm...definitely add some fat/protein to your lunch to avoid afternoon hunger!

    I usually bring yogurt (2%, not fat free - 16g protein) and that holds me over pretty well.

    Good luck! :smile:
  • kmglennie
    kmglennie Posts: 40
    Agree with toronto_j ! Steamed green beans isn't enough- try to get some protein in there as well. I like to pack hard boiled eggs, lean deli meats, guacamole, mustard, greek yogurt: things like that. I also keep lots of herbal teas around to sip on.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    Aside from your lunch issue others have mentioned, here are things I currently have in my desk to snack on/eat.

    Belvita cinnamon/brown sugar breakfast biscuits (I only eat 2, instead of the 4 in a pack)
    Nature Valley Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Protein bar (my usual breakfast every work day)
    Dry Roasted Almonds
    Several varieties of flavored almonds
    Several containers of soup
    Skinny Cow chocolate (dreamy clusters and heavenly crisp)
    3 flavors of instant oatmeal
    pistachios
    cheez-its
    mixed nuts
    canned pineapple
    two flavors of granola


    Not all of these are low calorie and healthy, but I have a good mix of nutritious foods and treats. I also currently have several greek yogurts in the refrigerator. The granola I have is for those.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    What kinds of snacks do you bring/prepare for work to avoid vending machine snacking or grabbing a candy bar? I've been eating steamed green beans for lunch... but I find myself hungry again at about 2pm. Help!

    Sarah


    Green beans have fiber, so that's good. But you need something more.....protein and/or fat to go with that. Protein & fat have more staying power for me.

    Snacks I keep at work

    100 calorie popcorn
    No sugar added applesauce
    100 calorie almonds (usually the cocoa ones......yum)
    Oatmeal packs (Better Oats have flax added....look at calories though....130 calorie range for me)
    Chai ....I add milk & honey
    String cheese
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    I just have a no-food rule in my office. Eliminates the mindless snacking. I figure I don't need extra calories to sit at my desk, you know?
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    What kinds of snacks do you bring/prepare for work to avoid vending machine snacking or grabbing a candy bar? I've been eating steamed green beans for lunch... but I find myself hungry again at about 2pm. Help!

    Sarah

    Your not eating enough at lunch, need to add some kind of meat. Protein takes longer to break down there for makes you feel full for longer ( I mean food not a protein powder).

    Just my opinion
  • laineybz
    laineybz Posts: 704 Member
    Boredom kicks in so i go armed with fruit, (grapes, melon, apples) yoghurts, chewing gum, the occasional instant hot chocolate.
  • MrsHollingsworthThomas
    MrsHollingsworthThomas Posts: 164 Member
    I always make sure to have something on hand for the afternoon munchies when they hit!
    Usually, I have several different options for 'emergencies':

    *100 calorie pack of popcorn
    *1-2 pieces of fruit; bananas, oranges, or grapefruits
    *Pistachio nuts (small one-serving bags)
    *Tea/Coffee (believe it or not, when I get afternoon cravings, a hot cup of tea will help me through it. Although as a few others have mentioned, you may be missing nutrients from eating so little, so you may want to try FOOD)
    *1-3 individual small Reese's cups; for when i get a craving for chocolate.
    *Skinny Cow candy bar, for the same reason.
  • SonicDeathMonkey80
    SonicDeathMonkey80 Posts: 4,489 Member
    Aside from your lunch issue others have mentioned, here are things I currently have in my desk to snack on/eat.

    Belvita cinnamon/brown sugar breakfast biscuits (I only eat 2, instead of the 4 in a pack)
    Nature Valley Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Protein bar (my usual breakfast every work day)
    Dry Roasted Almonds
    Several varieties of flavored almonds
    Several containers of soup
    Skinny Cow chocolate (dreamy clusters and heavenly crisp)
    3 flavors of instant oatmeal
    pistachios
    cheez-its
    mixed nuts
    canned pineapple
    two flavors of granola


    Not all of these are low calorie and healthy, but I have a good mix of nutritious foods and treats. I also currently have several greek yogurts in the refrigerator. The granola I have is for those.

    Your junk drawer looks awfully familiar to mine, and I have yogurt and cheese in the fridge and apples and bananas at my desk.
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  • MurphyIzzy11
    MurphyIzzy11 Posts: 7
    I eat a full breakfast now. I was eating around 9 am, 11 am and then 1230, 2 and 4 and dinner around 6, but I found myself constantly thinking about food!!! I even GAINED weight from it! The last two weeks, I usually have two packs of oatmeal with an apple or a granola bar with an apple. For lunch I have some tuna with two slices of weight bread and a tomato soup on the go container. My favorite dinner lately has been mixing a can of green beans with a can of corn, sliced red potatoes with some lean smoked sausage. It only takes about 15 minutes to prepare and cook.

    As for snacks at the desk, I keep an apple typically. It get the sweet craving out of the way. I also eat it with vanilla yogurt or peanut butter. I also keeps lots of gum on hand now too, or mints. Something to keep me away from food.

    I haven't lost any weight yet, but I can tell I have lost inches. I'm a yo-yoer. I do good for a few days then get invited out to dinner and it goes out the window that night :(. Although I have gotten better about jumping back into gear the next day and I am making more conscious decisions. I'm hoping to have dropped a pound by next week!
  • belgerian
    belgerian Posts: 1,059 Member
    I do not eat at my desk, I go to the lunch room to eat and then leave. If I eat at my desk I will snack (Which is code for eat too much of the wrong things). I keep water next to me.
  • DeeVanderbles
    DeeVanderbles Posts: 589 Member
    I eat breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack and then dinner.

    My snacks are usually a banana, apple, clementines, grapes, carrots and hummus, yogurt, cottage cheese or peanuts. I always make sure I only have one serving with me, which helps prevent binge eating my snacks. haha.
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    i normally have a pepperoni stick and an apple. Always have a bottle full of water and a green tea too. If I'm hungry after that, I've weighed out almonds and stashed them in my desk. I also have antioxident halls and gum.
  • cheekym7
    cheekym7 Posts: 570 Member
    this is what I brought today...... An orange, and apple, a cheese string, 2 white cheddar rice cakes and 2 cups of cantaloupe.
    This is what I have at my desk and I feel free to snack whenever I'm hungryI still have breakfast and luch. (the fruit is all pre-cut so I can mix it up and not have to eat a whole orange or apple at once..
  • DrJenO
    DrJenO Posts: 404 Member
    Copied from a topic I replied to yesterday :wink: :

    Protein and fat are your friends.

    Hummus, cottage cheese, peanut/almond butter, nuts in general, etc.
    Some of my recent snacks include:
    - String cheese with an apple or clementine
    - Hard-boiled egg and apple, with or without almond butter
    - Cheese and crackers (nut thins), maybe with fruit
    - Cottage cheese with 1/2 banana and peanut butter
    - Veggies with ranch or hummus and some baked chicken breast
    - Greek yogurt with oats or granola, walnuts, strawberries

    Love me some healthy fats!
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Now I need to eat some almonds....
  • KrazyAsianNic
    KrazyAsianNic Posts: 1,227 Member
    One of my favorite go to snacks are veggies and hummus, or fruit and string cheese (grapes and cheese go well together). I also get Nature Valley bars, Rice rolls/rice cakes with peanut butter, or trail mix/chinese rice cracker mix. Or yogurt with fruit and/or nuts.

    I agree with everyone else that you need more than just green beans for lunch. add some protein and a serving of carbs. I think it'll help you stay full longer.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Also, I eat a snack at 3pm every day. I need one. I build it into my calories.
  • Mario_Az
    Mario_Az Posts: 1,331 Member
    quest bars, protein shakes, turkey jerky
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    roasted, unsalted cashew nuts
    cheese sticks
    vegetables and sour cream
    homemade chocolate cups
    hardboiled eggs
    ham slice and cheese slice rolled together
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
    Right now, I'm snacking on a .25 cup of almonds and three dove dark chocolate squares.

    Keeps me from craving sugar later.
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    My desk is a No Snack Zone. I find that's the only way for me to keep control. Otherwise, when I get focused on work, I quickly lose track of how much I am eating. If I don't really _see_ the food with my eyes or notice it going down my throat then my mind never figures out that I am supposed to be satiated. I go to the kitchen for pre-planned snack breaks.
  • dswolverine
    dswolverine Posts: 246 Member
    I can't keep food at my desk or i'll eat ALL of it! I bring a lot of snacks in, but almost all of them require refrigeration (i.e. cheese, cut up veggies, 2% greek yogurt). This is good since it requires me to get off my butt and go to the kitchen to get a snack, so there's no "mindless" aspect to it. Plus they keep me satiated so the vending machine isn't as tempting
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member
    Eat more for lunch and you won't get hungry at 2pm. (Do you really eat only green beans???)

    Also, snacking at your desk is a good way to de-rail your weight loss efforts. Eat proper meals away from your desk whenever possible.
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
    I cut an apple in half, scoop out the center with a melon baller, then put 1/2 tablespoon (I weigh it) of peanut butter in each half. I also like KIND bars, yogurt with granola and/or fruit, 100 calorie pretzel packs (but those don't fill me up for long), bananas, grapes, today I had pineapple and blueberries. I love Triscuit Brown Rice Sea Salt and Black Pepper crackers with a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese. My office mate teases me for crunching too loud when I bring that, lol. Anything that gives me a mix of macros as well as some fiber to tide me over. I only bring enough for the day and when all that food is gone, I'm done eating until dinner. I fill in with decaf coffee and ice water.
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member

    Also, snacking at your desk is a good way to de-rail your weight loss efforts. Eat proper meals away from your desk whenever possible.

    Never a problem for me, because I prelog everything I bring to work. If I track it and stay within my deficit it's not derailing.
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member

    Also, snacking at your desk is a good way to de-rail your weight loss efforts. Eat proper meals away from your desk whenever possible.

    Never a problem for me, because I prelog everything I bring to work. If I track it and stay within my deficit it's not derailing.

    Then it's part of your plan. And since you only bring enough for one day, you can't get de-railed.
  • lyrical_melody
    lyrical_melody Posts: 242 Member
    You need more protein!!

    I usually eat the following:

    Breakfast: Yogurt and piece of fruit

    Snack: 2 Hard boiled eggs and/or some veggies (carrot sticks..etc)

    Lunch: Veggies with a protein (ex: baked chicken breast with asparagus), (ex: home made turkey chili)..etc.

    Snack: Apple or Banana and/or unsalted nuts

    Having a filling lunch is VERY IMPORTANT to keep you going the rest of the day.

    Also..make sure you are drinking water...that helps me keep occupied and not eat everything in sight! ha!
  • smruggles
    smruggles Posts: 20 Member
    Just to clarify with everyone, I usually eat a whole bag of frozen green beans and then some peanut butter for lunch, but I'm also eating a fibery breakfast [English muffin with hot tea]... and dinner is my big meal (mostly because I have to cook for my brother and fiance). We end up eating chicken, rice, and veggies most nights. Not horrible eating, just a lot of cals.

    Today I brought in a salad & tuna with my green beans because I forgot to hard-boil eggs last night. I love granola, but it's so darn expensive... I'm a picky eater so it's hard to get protein in there. I basically eat chicken [as far as meats go] and tuna [as far as fishy meats go].

    Lots of great tips, guys. I try not to snack, but I am jealous of those cheez-its! ;) I have a ton of water every day, I cut down to one can of soda a day [still awful, I know], and I think you're right, I'm going to stop snacking and eating lunch at my desk.

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