Healthy Desk Snacks To Get You Through The Workday

If you're returning to the office after a year and a half of working from home, you likely forgot what it's like not to have a full fridge and pantry filled with food at your disposal at all hours of the day. Chugging through the 2:30 p.m. slump when you don't want coffee or a second meal, usually ends in a trip to the vending machine for a soda and some chips or cookies because you need something. But there are plenty of snacks you can keep at your desk or in an office fridge that are packed with nutritious ingredients and will keep you fueled until it's time to go home and cook dinner.

With filling ingredients like nuts and cranberries, trail mix is a great treat to keep at your desk. This recipe serves 12 so you can bring the whole batch with you to the office and have enough to get you through two weeks of snacking.

For the Cinnamon Trail Mix recipe, click here.

Baked goods made with wholesome ingredients are great if you're an avid meal prepper. Make a batch of these whole-wheat muffins on Sunday and pack them in your lunch bag before work for convenient, fuss-free snacking.

For the Whole-Wheat Lemon-Raspberry Muffins recipe, click here.

If you need a mid-afternoon protein boost, go with hummus. Skip the store-bought stuff and make it from scratch instead. The main ingredient is typically garbanzo beans, but this recipe uses white beans, which gives the snack an earthy, nutty flavor. Pack it alongside carrots and celery.

For the White Bean Hummus recipe, click here.

This beef jerky recipe is easily customizable. Don't have white wine handy? Use soy sauce instead. Like your jerky spicy? Add red pepper flakes. No matter how it's prepared, jerky is a great way to use up beef and keep yourself fueled with protein throughout the workday.

For the Beef Jerky recipe, click here.

Fruit leather is a great snack to pack for kids and adults alike, and will give you a sugar boost without the processed ingredients of some other snacks. This recipe serves 10, which is enough for each member of the family to get a few slices!

For the Mango Fruit Leather recipe, click here.

If fruit leather isn't your speed, opt for fresh fruit instead. This recipe combines tropical fruits like pineapple and cantaloupe for a delicious sweet snack. Hold onto summer a little bit longer by bringing its bounty of fruit to work with you.

For the Fruit Salad recipe, click here.

If you need something sweet and salty come snacktime, this chocolate-drizzled popcorn effortlessly marries the two flavor profiles together. Opt for dark chocolate to add antioxidants to the mix.

For the Chocolate-Drizzled Popcorn recipe, click here.

If you don't mind its viscous texture, chia seed pudding is a great protein-rich snack option. For this recipe, the seeds are left to soak overnight in blueberries and milk. Top it with bananas and flaxseed.

For the Blueberry Overnight Chia Seed Pudding recipe, click here.

Bringing tuna to work won't make you popular in the office, but its tastiness makes up for the smell. Swap mayo for Greek yogurt and add avocado for a healthy spin on a classic dish. Serve it with a side of crackers and veggies for convenient snacking.

For the Healthy Tuna Salad recipe, click here.

This dish combines the ease of baking muffins with the savory flavors of an egg sandwich. It's a great grab-and-go breakfast for your kids and a mid-afternoon snack for you.

For the Smokey Egg Muffins recipe, click here.

Skip the vending machine bag of chips and opt for these baked kale chips instead. The customizable snack is made by adding kale to the oven and cooking until crisp. Keep it simple by using salt or get creative and sprinkle the kale with sesame seeds, Parmesan or whatever spices tickle your fancy.

For the Baked Kale Chips recipe, click here.

Baked oatmeal made waves on TikTok when it went viral as a healthy but tastier alternative to regular oatmeal. You can customize the snack to your liking by adding fruit or chocolate chips, but this recipe keeps things simple with cinnamon as the dominant flavor.

For the Baked Cinnamon Oatmeal recipe, click here.

Crackers can be found on store shelves everywhere, but you probably have everything you need to make them in your pantry. This easy-to-follow recipe calls for eight ingredients and will yield enough crackers to get you through the week.

For the DIY Crackers recipe, click here.

If you always wind up with a sweet tooth at work, try these cherry chocolate superfood bars. The plant-based recipe is packed with filling ingredients like nuts and peanut butter and has a sweet, crumbly crust made of dates and coconut.

For the Cherry Vegan Superfood Bars recipe, click here.

Looking for an easy way to turn your food scraps into something amazing? Try these mixed root vegetable chips that use carrots, golden beets, purple beets, sweet potatoes, parsnips and turnips.

For the Mixed Root Veggie Chips recipe, click here.

Don't throw old fruit away! Dry it instead by adding it to an oven set to the lowest temperature and let it cook for 6 hours, turning occasionally. Enjoy it as is or turn it into a mix with dark chocolate chips, pretzels and nuts.

For the DIY Dried Fruit recipe, click here.

Chocolate is the perfect snack for an afternoon pick-me-up. The sugar wakes you up without the potential crashing effects of coffee. Take a simple piece of dark chocolate even further by topping it with fruit, shredded coconut and nuts.

For the Fruit and Nut Dark Chocolate Bark recipe, click here.

Turn your Sunday baking project into an incredible weekday snack. This chocolate chip banana nut bread will satisfy your cravings with its dynamic blend of flavors, and nuts that will keep you full until dinnertime.

For the Chocolate Chip Banana Nut Bread recipe, click here.

You're guaranteed to look forward to guacamole, especially when it's homemade. In addition to the dip, this recipe comes equipped with instructions for air fryer tortilla chips so you'll have a healthy, crunchy option for dipping.

For the Roasted Garlic Guacamole recipe, click here.

Loaded with protein and fiber, chickpeas are the perfect filling snack to get you through the 2:30 rut. Cook them in the air fryer to ensure a crispy, salty coating. Not only are air fryer chickpeas great for you, but they're also a wonderful nut-free snack option for school lunches.

For the Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas recipe, click here.

More from The Daily Meal:

Salad Recipes for When You're Just Tired of Lettuce

Takeout Favorites to Make at Home

4-Ingredient Entrees Perfect for Busy Weeknights

18 Things to Make With Leftover Chicken

Back-to-School Lunches Your Kids Will Actually Eat