Healthy Snacks To Keep At Your Desk

I don’t know about your work, but here at IMAGE, between edible press gifts and a whole lot of birthday cake, it can be pretty hard to stick to healthy snacks when the urge to munch on something hits. We recognise that treating yourself is good for your mental health,?but sometimes you realise that you are the office go-to source for chocolate and you are surrounded by chocolate right now at your desk and writing this whilst eating a packet of Haribo and you have to tell yourself to cop on and sort your life out.

READ MORE: My Healthy Life: Ashling Thompson

FROZEN BLUEBERRIES

Blueberries are full of vitamin C, rich in phytochemicals (which protect the body against a long list of diseases), low in calories, packed with antioxidants and have?14% of your required daily intake of fiber.?According to nutritionist Jo Lewin,?blueberries can also help your?vision and protect?against age-related macular degeneration.

You should spread your blueberries?on a baking sheet before freezing, and once frozen, store them in a plastic bag. Frozen blueberries may lose their texture more than other berries, but they’re way less boring and a lot more delicious when they’re frozen.

Top Tip: You can now sign up with Centra and health and wellness expert Pat Divilly for free meal healthy plans and 21 days of challenges if you’re looking to get active!

BRAZIL NUTS

Oliver McCabe, owner, head chef and nutritionist at Select Stores in Dalkey, told us that brazil nuts are high in protein, fiber and energy and great source of Omega 3s, 6s and 9s, which means they keep your energy sharp and they help you get shiny hair and healthy skin. They’re packed with calcium and magnesium – for muscles and healthy bones. Vitamin E (found in brazil nuts) will also keep your skin looking well, and combined with selenium, (also in brazil nuts) will work to?neutralise free radicals that cause disease. They have also been found to relieve’menopausal symptoms. It’s okay to have them chocolate-covered though, right?

Top Tip: Chef Clodagh McKenna told us last year that if she had to pick three items to snack on during the day that aren’t too unhealthy, she’d pick good quality dark chocolate, almonds, and apples.

?PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA

A chopped banana smeared in peanut butter is as delicious as not eating Dairy Milk gets. Yeah, there is sugar in your banana, but less than in the packet of Haribo I just ate. Adding peanut butter satisfies your yearning for something salty too. Peanut butter is high in protein, fiber, potassium, boasts antioxidant properties, contains healthy fats and will help your craving for something salty.