Healthy Snacking at Work: Why Baked Goods Beat Packaged Snacks

You are half way through your workday and your energy is failing fast. Your hand reaches out instinctively and automatically to the package of chips, chocolate bar or packaged food that is handy and on your desk. If this scenario resonates with you then you know the feeling, modern workplaces tend to encourage snacking.

Long hours at your desk, endless meetings and tight deadlines plus the general trend of work from home all contributed to a new culture around snacking during work hours.

What goes in to our mid-workday snacking plays a big role on our performance at work, focus and nutrition throughout the day. While readily available packages processed snacks provide a quick fix, healthy and well baked snacks such as whole-wheat breads, savory baked products, fresh-baked cookies as well as any other variety of baked goods made the ideal choice for your next work snack. So if you are curious about picking some wholesome snacks that are perfect for an action packed workday we will help you why freshly baked goods are worth the spot in your work snack list.

Why Workplace Snacking Matters

You’ve had your breakfast a few hours back, and it’s not time for lunch yet either! This is when you need a snack you can count on to bridge the hunger gap. A good snack helps you ward off extreme hunger, keeps your energy levels up between meals, and also helps you concentrate and remain productive throughout your challenging workday.

This is of particular importance to you if you are working late at a desk – regardless of whether you work from the Bangalore office or work from home; the presence of readily available snacks around you can ensure that the hunger doesn’t push you towards readily available but possibly unhealthy quick options.

Instead of snacking less, learn how to snack smart.

The Problem With Typical Packaged Snacks

Package snacks are sought-after for an even more obvious cause – convenience. A person could actually be taking pleasure in the material in only seconds with a solitary tear of the bag. However, while helpful, this doesn’t always imply the snack makes an excellent everyday option.

A great deal of those packed goodies we tend to mindlessly have a tendency to reach for can consist of significant quantities of refined carbohydrates, salt, added sugars or fats (depending upon what you’re nibbling on ).

A further downside is portion size – oh joy – snack pack awareness (or absence thereof!). Incredibly easy to snack away on the bulk bag with work tasks as well as digital conferences. Prior to you understand it, your fast snack has actually entered into an unplanned mini meal! By keeping points simple with a well-balanced, portioned treat made from products that are more recognizable to your pantry, managing workplace snacks can come to be far less of an endeavor.

Why Baked Goods Can Be a Better Office Snack Choice

Being “baked” is not the same as being healthy- and it is a huge and very, very important distinction between the two. A whole wheat piece of bread and a chocolate iced creme puff have vastly different nutrition profiles… but they are both baked! The upside to choosing wisely (whether bought or homemade) baked good, is that you are flooded with options!

You could choose to add your favorite peanut butter, a bit of low-fat hummus, an egg, or a little cheese to your toast, depending on the level of hunger you’re feeling, and whether you plan to work your muscles at all.

Multigrain breads, a scone (that does not contain 28g of sugar), some sort of savory scone (if savory rather than sweet calls to you, rather than chips), one homemade cookie with your afternoon cup of coffee or tea, smaller portions, and just a small bite sized piece of a sweet product will do you more service. The more you can incorporate something healthy along with, the better the baked product! Don’t feel that you have to banish the enjoyable treats! Just be selective.

Healthy Office Snacks for Different Workdays

Choosing a snack can vary by how your days play out.

1. For Long Meetings

Since back to back meetings rarely allow for long breaks – opt for the convenient option! There are times for hearty snacks but a wholesome sandwich is so much more filling then chowing down a packet of chips on the go from one meeting to the next – just make sure the fillings do not spill from the whole-wheat bread.

2. For Work-from-Home Snacking

It is a little easier to snack while working from home. The kitchen is not so far away and with no real boundaries on work and personal time you may easily reach out for something to munch on when bored and stressed out. One way to combat this is to prepare yourself a little snacking box for working at home. Keep in handy some planned snacks at your workspace so you do not go to the kitchen a dozen times or more.

3. For the Afternoon Energy Dip

We all know the familiar 3-4 p.m. Sluggishness.

But before you reach for a chocolate bar and some caffeine, what do you usually go for in that afternoon moment when your body craves something? Try to reach for the same food type with a baked good. E.g.

A slice of whole meal with any of the spreads available , fruit, and / or dry nuts may be suitable .

Basically the trick is to not put all eggs in one basket when having your snacks.

Can Food Help You Stay Focused at Work?

There is no one “food” that can magically transform you into a productive power-bot – although what you put in your mouth might impact your overall well-being through the day. Eating a hearty, heavy meal can weigh you down whereas skipping your meal can cause you to become absent minded due to hunger pangs. Enter sensible energy snacks.

So instead of searching for a “single brain boosting food”, try creating a sound dietary pattern incorporating whole food, plenty of water and moderate consumption of healthy snacks.

In the midst of a career, a quick snack can simply make that hunger go away as it can already be a distraction for any busy professional. But having a nice and tasty Snack is always a Cherry On Top of the Pie!!

Baked vs Packaged Snacks: What Should You Choose?

It is not as simple as packaged snacks are good and baked goods are bad.

Think holistically about what you are choosing to eat as snack.

When choosing a snack, consider:

• ingredients which will suit your eating habits
• portion size–an indulgent treat can be a “workplace snack” if enjoyed in a sensible portion.
• Preparation (for baked goods, fresh preparation can mean a healthy alternative to highly manufactured snack foods)
• nutritional value when choosing snacks that offer beneficial components rather than “just calories”
• convenience of the food (what is a “workplace snack” if you can’t have it readily available during your workday)
• This offers a balance without over complicating the “workplace snack.”

Bangalore Professionals Need Convenient Snack Options

Bangalore’s fast-moving culture causes most professionals to spend a considerable chunk of their day on commutes, within meetings, facing deadlines and screens.

Whether it is on your way to an office located within the city’s bounds, to a coworking hub for the day, or even when working from home, access to easy-to-grab Bangalore snacks can greatly ease a hectic day.

Fresh bakery items can fit perfectly into a busy day, as they are perfectly portioned, easy to transport, easy to share, and easy to consume on-the-go. Baked items can even be utilized at the workplace by teams during meetings, client conversations, celebrations, or even afternoon tea breaks.

Instead of resorting to an office pantry stacked solely with packaged chips and sweets, we should explore a wider array of snacks to stock.

How to Build a Better Office Snack Box

You don’t need a fancy meal prep routine in order to pack the perfect snack box.

Test out building yours around a mix of:

Choose a Baked Base

Begin with a fresh loaf of bread, whole wheat, multigrain, or another alternative as desired.

Add Something Filling

Serve your baked item to compliment your tastes with a topping of nuts, fruit or yogurt or simply by eating it to be in with other nutritious accompaniments

Keep a Small Treat

And you do not have to quit your cravings altogether for a healthy diet plan 3. Enjoy some treats Your healthy diet strategy can also include some treats like a cookie, a brownie or any other baked item that you simply love to nibble on a while having fun at work as you nibble on your tasty snack container filled up with tasty food while you can do it while pre-portions.

Don’t Forget Water

Hydration What appears to be hunger is sometimes thirst. Have your water bottle ready at your desk.

Smart Snacking Is About Balance

The biggest pitfall when people decide to ‘eat healthily’ is that they figure it involves completely revolutionizing what they eat. You don’t. Gradually ease yourself into it: swap one snack for the very best quality one that you can get that is home made.

Make snacks the night before.

Ration your portions of things like biscuits in advance rather than eating directly from the packet. Eat it with a piece of fruit, some nuts, etc. It will gradually develop healthier habits and hopefully it won’t be too dull. Food needs to be easy to grab, provide adequate sustenance and ideally enjoyable.

Build Your Workday Snack Box With Goldline

Good bakery food should complement everyday life seamlessly, and we’re big believers of that at Goldline. The kinds of products ranging from bread, savoury baked items to cookies and other in house specialties can help you customize the snack box that best suits you as well as your schedule. If you’re stocking snacks for yourself, if you’re setting up office snacks in Bangalore for a colleague working from home or if you just feel you have to snack something healthy in office for yourself, build a combination that will be wholesome and appetizing to you. Prepare a cookie box filled with your favorites that’ll improve your next tea break.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are baked goods healthier than packaged snacks?

Not necessarily. They’re often an important consideration, although the final value varies according to: the ingredients the preparation portion the product it is a helpful replacement to store-bought snacks in some case.

2. What are some good healthy office snacks?

Whole wheat or multigrain bread snacks, fruits, nuts, yoghurt, and well-portioned baked products would make suitable office snacks.

3. What are good energy snacks for a busy workday?

It may be more filling to mix two snacks up. You can also try combining freshwhole grain bread with an attractive spread, or bake some in order to incorporate fresh nuts and fruit.

4. Is snacking while working from home a bad habit?

No – the issues aren’t typically with snacking. They’re to do with absent minded- snacking, and snacking in an unplanned way. Prepare snacks in advance and use a designated snack box.

5. How can I make a healthy office snack box?

Bring the best of both worlds: one or two snacks from a bakery selection, and one element of pure food, say, a snack bar with nuts, or a small bowl of fruit salad. Do you have room for that tiny bite from someone’s cake? That’s fine. Pack the right amount of drinking water, and don’t be afraid to make your snacks fit in your office days.

Final Thought

Let this tea-time you reach past that new packet of snacks that’s stashed between the keyboard, for your taste buds to remain happy throughout the workday. All that it needs is, better and bolder choices prepared well in advance by planning snacks wisely by first selecting preferred baked savouries and then to combine and pack it into snack boxes.