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Advice / Succeeding at Work / Break Room

6 Healthy Snacks to Get You Through the Workday

You’re busy enough already, so when 3 PM rolls around and your stomach starts to growl, it’s understandable that you run to the strategically-placed vending machine down the hall. But we both know that a bag of chips or candy isn’t really going to fill you up!

Instead, try one of these healthy, energizing, and (best of all) delicious, snacks. Most of the recipes can be prepared ahead of time, so you can grab them on the way out the door, keep them at work, and be ready whenever hunger strikes.

Avocado Slices with Lemon-Soy Sauce

Avocado with Soy Sauce

If you are an avocado lover like I am, you need to try this simple and delicious snack. The lemon and soy sauce really bring out the yummy avocado flavor.

  •  1 avocado, sliced
  • 1-2 teaspoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1-2 teaspoons reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 scallion, finely chopped
  • Arrange avocado slices on a plate (or in a jar or Tupperware if you are taking it to work), then drizzle with lemon juice and soy sauce. Garnish with scallion.

    Persian Yogurt Cucumber Dish (Mast-o-Khiar)

    Persian Yogurt Cucumber Dip

    This is a traditional Persian dish made from yogurt and cucumbers. You can use any plain yogurt you like, although I highly recommend Greek yogurt because of its creamier consistency and tangy taste. During the week, I layer the ingredients in a mason jar before heading out the door—then when it's time to eat, I mix it all up and enjoy!

    • 1 cup nonfat, plain yogurt
    • 2 Persian cucumbers (also known as mini cucumbers)
    • 1 heaping tablespoon dried dill or 1/4 cup fresh dill
    • 1 clove garlic, crushed
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • Optional: 1 handful of raisins for a touch of sweetness
    • Cut each cucumber once lengthwise and then into 1/4 inch slices. Combine cucumbers with yogurt. Add dill, crushed garlic, salt, pepper, and raisins if using. Mix well with a spoon and serve garnished with cucumber slices and dill.

      Egg and Gruyère with Tarragon on Whole-Grain Baguette 

      Egg on Whole Grain

      This protein-packed combination will satisfy your craving for something substantial and hold you over for hours. You can either use the entire hard-boiled egg or go super healthy and just use the whites.

      • A piece of whole-grain baguette, sliced lengthwise
      • 2 hard-boiled eggs
      • Thinly sliced Gruyère cheese
      • Few sprigs of fresh tarragon, washed
      • Salt and pepper to taste
      • Arrange the Gruyère on top of the sliced baguette, add sliced hard-boiled egg, and top with tarragon, salt, and pepper. 

        Tasty Tuna with Asian Flair

        Asian Tuna

        You’ll never look at a can of tuna the same way again after making this five-minute recipe! Not only is it super yummy, but it’s healthy, too.

        • 1 can tuna (I recommend the kind packed in olive oil)
        • 1 1/2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
        • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
        • 1 scallion, washed and chopped
        • Pepper to taste
        • Combine all ingredients, then eat on it’s own, with crackers, or with a side of celery.

          Bananarama Power! (a.k.a. Not Your Average Power Bar)

          Bananarama Power Bar

          This is such a fantastic recipe to prepare over the weekend so that you'll have a tasty grab-and-go breakfast or snack for the rest of the week. These will surely curb your craving for carbs, give you energy, and hold you over for many hours. Plus, they’re way healthier than those sugary, processed power bars you find at the store.

          • 2 large, ripe bananas, mashed with a fork
          • 2 cups raw oats
          • 1/2 cup skim milk
          • 1 egg (or 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce)
          • 2 tablespoons melted butter
          • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
          • 2 tablespoons organic agave
          • Pinch of salt
          • Either 1/4 cup walnut pieces and 5 large dates, chopped into pieces (my favorite), or a handful of dark chocolate chips
          • Preheat oven to 375ºF. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Place batter on greased cookie sheet, shape into individual bars or round cookies, pat down so they are somewhat flat, and cook for about 30 minutes, until they begin to brown.

            Honeycrisp Apple Sandwich

            Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich

            You don't need to be a kid to enjoy this simple, delicious, and healthy snack. It’s so tasty that sometimes I even have it for dessert. You can use any sort of apple for this, but Honeycrisp is truly amazing.

            • Honeycrisp apple
            • A spread of peanut butter
            • A drizzle of honey
            • Slice your apple in 1/2 inch, bread-like slices and put a nice layer of peanut butter on top. Add some honey, top it like a sandwich, and enjoy!

              130322 More Healthy SnacksStill hungry? We've got six more healthy and delicious snacks for you to try!

              Photos courtesy of Solmaz Amirnazmi.