Desk job snacking

Great idea!! I always think it's a great idea to pre portion your food - and especially in your situation!! I would completely avoid the vending machine!!

some great snacks, or what I think are great snacks, include....
nuts - pistachios, almonds, etc.
rice cakes (the mini ones are good, and you can pre-portion those easier - and it makes you feel like you're eating more than a couple of the regular size ones!)
apples
carrots
yogurts (greek yogurt comes in small snack size containers and has like 9g protein for only 100 calories or so)
sugar free pudding/jell-o
clementine
hummus w/veggies or pretzels
edamame
protein bars - these can be high in calories, but Luna makes mini protein bars, and I think Cliff does too that are under 100 calories each.
string cheese - weight watchers is delicious - it's the only kind I eat - and it's only 50 calories each.
mini babybel cheese -- the light is only 50 calories.
turkey pepperoni
Fiber One 90 calories bars or brownies
OatFit Oatmeal (100 calories or so a pack)

*Try to choose snacks high in protein - and eat a lot of fiber - both make you feel full & satisfied.

and always drink tons of water -- it helps you feel full

I don't take any cash or change with me to work - can't get anything out of the vending machines....

I pre-portiomed... it helps massively but prepare some good retaliation banter to throw at colleagues who may make snide remarks about control/diet etc!

I buy everything I possible can already packaged in single servings. And if it isn't packaged that way I count, weigh or measure out the single portion amount. And that's all I allow myself to have in one sitting. It has worked well for me.

sounds like you know what works best for you! i too work at a desk job and have gained 30 lbs since i started here (3 years ago). the vending machine used to be a downfall for me too and i finally just had to stop carrying cash so even if i wanted to get something, i couldn't! really getting healthy and losing weight is all about trial and error and finding out what works best for you.

some of my favorite snacks to bring to work are fresh fruit (especially grapes), granola bars, pudding cups, string cheese, yogurt, wheat crackers, yogurt covered raisins, apple sauce, pretzels, etc.

I don't buy individual portioned snacks/yogurt/etc..., but I did buy a bunch of ziploc containers - so when I get yogurt or whatever, I pre-portion what I'm going to take for lunches. I also fill up my water cup as soon as I get to work, (32 oz) and I make a conscious effort to refill it everytime I see it get about half empty. If I want something other than water, I make myself some iced tea or bring a diet drink.

I also make sure not to bring any change/cash with me to work to avoid the vending machine temptation.

I also have a desk job and yes, prepack your snacks in a zip lock bag the night before. Friend me and you can view my diary. Almonds are the best snack to help the hungryness. Raw almonds are the best and 1.5 servings will help. Also hard boiled eggs, apples or banana is good. l have 1430 cal a day plus more with exercise and even on a rest day which is Thursday, is doable. Hope this helps, and just my view my diary for some examples.

Chris

Sounds interesting.........I think there was someone else here who put snacks in little bags like that, but can't remember who it was.

I have a desk job, too, and tend to snack a bit......and there are ALWAYS temptations around here. Right now, there's a big candy jar filled with little Halloween-size candy bars. I have avoided them so far today, but just KNOWING they're there makes me nuts.

Some of my favorite snacky items:

100 calorie yogurt
Any of the 100 calorie snack items - faves are the chocolate-covered pretzels (Mister Salty) and the little brownies - for those chocolate fixes!
Chex Mix Italian Herb and Parmesan - 110 calories in 1/2 cup
Apples and other fruit, cut up, in a bowl (so it appears you have a BIG bowl of something good to eat!)
Veggie Straws (my new favorite sensation!) You can have a LOT of them for a little calories, and they satifsy that crunch/salty urge without being too horrible for you. 130 calories in 38 straws (7 g fat..........) much less than chips or other crunchies.

I'm sure others will have good suggestions, too.

Much luck to you!

I also have a desk job and this is what has worked for me. I make everything the night before and use my food scale to portion it out. I also have set eating times. I have my breakfast before work or sometimes at work depending on time (7-8 am). Lately I have been having almonds, dates, and little bit of brown sugar mixed with a chopped up apple. Other things like a high fiber english muffin with an egg work well but remeber to watch how much cream cheese or butter and jam you use. The point is you want a breakfast that will keep you full for a few hours. Next I have a snack at 9 or 10. A yogurt works well or a granola bar, these are things you can keep at work. Next comes lunch from 12-1, I ate at my desk and would make a varity of things, all of it measured and packaged up. If I was going to have a sandwich I would keep all the parts seperate and assemble at work so nothing got soggy. I also have some staples in the work fridge like almond milk and soup so I have options when I want to snack or am no longer feeling my lunch. Once you get in the habit of eating every few hours, the snacking will go away. It gave me comfort to know I had a planned meal or snack waiting for me in just 30 minutes. By prelogging you can also see how good your day will be if you stick to the plan, it will give you insentive to skip the vending machine. if you really like stuff from the machine, make comprimises and buy healther options to keep in your desk. The hardest part was my snack between 2 and 3. That is when I had the munchies and never wanted the carrots I had planned. This is where it is important to keep that bag of healthy crackers or bars in your desk so you don't stop by a fst food place the second you get off.

I hope this all helped! To answer your questions more directly, have a plan and package out everything so you can't over eat. Also set up eating times every couple hours so you know when your next meal will be and log stuff before you eat it so you can see the effect it will have on your day.

Skinny Cow chocolates are awesome but just keep my cravings for chocolate going so I try not to eat them

HA..same here. I bought them, then at the whole box in two days!

I drink water or hot tea and keep almonds and one piece of fruit at my desk at all times. This seems to work for me. I like to munch and drink all day, I have to be wise about my snacks.

I always count out my almonds as well and do not eat all of them at once.

I pre-portion - but can't bring in the whole weeks worth on Monday or else I will eat it all by Wed. I either take 1-2 days at a time this way if I have a bad day it is not as bad as it could be!!

I think working an office job has been one of my biggest obstacles to weight loss, especially working second shift. Not only am I sedentary most of the day, but the cafeteria is also closed. I don't have the salad bar or fresh fruit as an option if I didn't bring it with me, only the vending machines (which also happen to be in the same room as the only microwave I have access to). I find that pre-portioning my food and bringing it with me has helped greatly, however due to the nature of my job I often get stuck on marathon phone calls and can't step away from my desk to grab the food I brought. Any suggestions on healthy snacks that I can keep in a drawer to hold me over when I can't grab something?

I love the skinny cow candy, especially the milk chocolate and peanut butter crisp ones. They are perfect when I really need something sweet and they have around half the calories of a regular candy bar.