Eat Smart: Enjoy Healthier Snacks at Work (FN1398, Reviewed Aug. 2016)
Availability: Web only
Choose Wisely
Are you eating enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains? (for your daily food plan.) Use snacks to fill nutrition gaps. Eating small, frequent, healthy meals or snacks will keep your energy up and make you less likely to overeat at your next meal.
Ask Yourself Some Questions
Use MyPlate to Inspire Your Snacks
Grain Group
• Whole-grain minimuffins or minibagels
• Whole-grain crackers or pretzels
• Air-popped popcorn
• Baked tortilla chips
Vegetable Group
• Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower and broccoli florets, celery sticks
Fruit Group
• Grapes, cherries, strawberries, melon chunks (honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe)
• Whole fresh fruits, such as apples, nectarines, plums, kiwifruit, apricots and oranges
• Prepackaged fruit cups or dried fruits
Dairy Group
• String cheese
• Low-fat or fat-free yogurt
Protein Foods Group
• Bean dip (Mix equal parts of black beans and your favorite salsa for a quick, protein-rich dip)
• Lightly salted or unsalted nuts
Snack Ideas
• Hummus and whole-wheat pita bread
• Vegetables, such as carrots or broccoli spears, with low-fat or fat-free ranch dip
• Baked tortilla chips with black bean and corn salsa
• Dried fruit, such as dried cranberries, and lightly salted nuts, such as almonds
• Low-fat yogurt with sliced fresh fruit
Food safety note: Be sure to keep perishable foods, such as dips and cut-up fruits and vegetables, refrigerated. They should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. If a refrigerator is not available, bring nonperishable foods, such as dried fruits, nuts and cereal-based snacks.
How do you manage special nutrition needs (allergies, diabetes) at meetings?
If you are ordering or bringing the snacks, be sure to find out about special nutrition concerns ahead of time. Provide a variety of healthful foods so people have options. Cut foods in snack-size portions, too.
Choose wisely at the vending machine. Candy bars are tempting, but you have healthier options. Look for snacks with fewer calories, lower sodium, less fat and no trans fats. Some better choices include 100-calorie packs, baked chips, granola bars, dried fruits, crisps and pretzels. If the vending machine doesn’t offer some of these items, ask your employer to provide some healthier options.
Eat Smart. Play Hard. 
For more information about nutrition.
Eat Smart. Play Hard. is an initiative of the Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Reviewed August 2016
