20 best healthy snacks for work

Grab a few of these energy-boosting healthy cookies for a sweet snack to enjoy on the go. Made with oats, bananas and raspberries, they won't cause your blood sugar levels to peak and crash, but they will help to bridge the hunger gap before dinner.

2. Salmon & chive bagel topper

Salmon, cream cheese and chive bagel topper

Mix cooked salmon fillet with low-fat cream cheese and herbs then pile on top of a toasted multiseed bagel for a filling pre-workout snack. The fish will give you a hit of protein, while the carbs provide an energy boost.

3. Chocolate chia pudding

Make a tasty, healthy chocolate pudding in just five minutes then pack up to take to work. It's low-calorie, vegan and the chia seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Keep it simple or top with berries for an extra bit of sweetness.

4. Nutty chicken satay strips

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Pack chicken satay bites in a lunchbox with cucumber and other crunchy crudités and store in the fridge at work. The easy marinade mixes peanut butter with garlic, soy, curry flavours and lime. Make them up to two days in advance for a standby healthy choice when you’re short on time.

5. Bean & feta spread with Greek salad salsa & oatcakes

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Get three of your 5-a-day from this punchy Greek salsa, served with shop-bought oatcakes and creamy bean and feta dip. The recipe makes enough leftover salsa to eat another day: pack in a jar and store in the fridge at work with the dip.

6. Peanut hummus with fruit & veg sticks

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Ready in 10 minutes, this no-cook nutty hummus is an easy one to pack up for work. Peanuts and paprika take it from plain hummus to something more savoury and substantial, while the chickpeas give a healthy fibre hit. Keep a pot of this in the fridge at work with crudités to stem off any 3 o’clock snack cravings.

7. Pitta pockets

Healthy snacking doesn't get quicker or more simple than this. Toast a pitta and fill with rocket and hummus for a tasty, nourishing bite that's ideal for fuelling your body before or after exercise.

8. Healthy biscuits

Orange oat and sultana cookies on a white plate

Looking for a healthier version of your favourite treat? These cookies from Leiths School of Food and Wine use wholemeal flour, oats and walnuts to create a wholesome sweet bite. Take one to work to enjoy with your afternoon cup of tea, and give you a little lift.

9. Pepper & walnut hummus with veggie dippers

Pack in a rainbow of veggies with this portable dip made from roasted red peppers and served with courgette, carrot and celery. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian, and takes just 10 minutes to prepare. You can pack into pots and keep it in your workplace fridge for up to two days, although the crudités are best prepped fresh to preserve their vitamin content and crunch.

10. High-fibre muesli

If you often eat breakfast cereal at your desk, try keeping a big jar of this at work for a wholesome snack that's better for you than most shop-bought options. It takes moments to put together and packs in all the goodness of oats, bran, wheatgerm, raisins, apricots and golden linseeds. Keep for up to two months in an airtight container.

11. Beetroot & mint dip

This bright and beautiful marbled dip tastes as good as it looks. Ready in 10 minutes, it's full of nutritious earthy beets alongside flavoursome cumin, mint and lemon – delicious on top of crudités, oatcakes or toasted pitta. Keep in an airtight jar in the office fridge.

12. Apple & blueberry bircher

This portable oat pot can be made the night before, ready to transport to the office in a sealed jar. The soaked, spiced oats are gentle on the tummy to aid digestion, while apple juice, grated apple and berries provide a fruity, vitamin-packed hit.

13. Healthy flapjacks

Healthy vegan date & walnut flapjacks cut into squares

Make these vegan flapjacks for office elevenses, or when you need a healthy pick-me-up. Medjool dates are soaked until soft, then puréed and mixed together with oats, mashed banana, cinnamon, vanilla and protein-rich hemp seeds to make a plant-based snack that's packed with nutrients.

14. Peanut butter & date oat pots

This recipe makes six pots of creamy, nutty overnight oats. They're naturally sweetened with dates and cinnamon, and a good source of calcium, thanks to the plain bio yogurt which is mixed in and added on top. Pack a pot to take to work and you'll be guaranteed to feel full and energised after eating.

15. Avocado & strawberry smoothie

You might think avocado is meant for savoury dishes, but the creamy texture is a welcome addition to healthy smoothies such as this one. Made with yogurt, strawberries, honey and milk, it's high in calcium and low in calories. Blend before work then keep in the office fridge, and enjoy mid-morning or in the afternoon.

16. Hummus snack packs

Save the liquid from a can of chickpeas to make a seriously creamy hummus and serve with crunchy carrot and cucumber batons for scooping. This healthy, low-fat snack contributes to your 5-a-day and will give you a good dose of fibre.

17. Tuna Niçoise protein pot

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Perfect for packing in lunchboxes and getting out of the work fridge after a lunchtime workout, this colourful salad will replenish your flagging system with 30g of protein, plus all the goodness of fresh tomatoes and green beans. It’s gluten-free and ready in just 20 minutes.

18. Indian chicken protein pot

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Use a couple of shop-bought ingredients to help you prep this protein pot. A pouch of ready-cooked spiced lentils, some good-quality tzatziki, lean chicken, fresh tomatoes and coriander make for a satisfying healthy snack that’s low in fat. Make ahead and store for up to two days in a sealed container in the fridge.

19. Steak & broccoli protein pot

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This homemade protein pot takes just 20 minutes to prepare, thanks to a few shop-bought tricks, including a pouch of wholegrain pre-cooked rice and chopped sushi ginger from a jar. It provides a hit of greens from the broccoli plus 30g of protein from the lean red meat. Store in a lunchbox in the fridge and make up to two days ahead.

20. Chicken, carrot & avocado rolls

Simply fill tortilla wraps with low-fat soft cheese, shredded chicken, avocado and salad, then roll and pack up ready for work. Perfect for a healthy snack, especially if you're planning to exercise in the evening. You could vary the veg and swap the soft cheese for hummus, depending on what you have in the fridge.