Short answer: the best office snacks are the ones that keep in a drawer, come in a fixed portion and do not leave oil on your keyboard. Roasted makhana, roasted chana, nuts, fruit and a square of dark chocolate cover most cravings. Here are ten that work.
Why office snacking goes wrong
Most workday snacking is unplanned: a biscuit with chai, a packet from the vending machine. The fix is not to stop snacking. It is to have something better within reach.
The 10
1. Roasted makhana
Light, crunchy and mess-free. A 45g pouch is a complete snack at roughly 190 to 228 kcal, depending on flavour. Cheese & Herbs is rich and savoury, and Peri Peri is the one for spice lovers.
2. Ragi chips
Ragi Masala Chips are roasted, never deep fried, and made with rice bran oil. A 95g pouch is one to share across the desk or spread over the week.
3. Beetroot chips
Masala Beetroot Chips are the snack that gets colleagues asking what you are eating. They contain milk and peanut, so mention it before you pass the pouch around.
4. Mixed nuts
A small handful of almonds and walnuts keeps well and needs no preparation. Nuts are calorie-dense, so about 30g is plenty.
5. Fresh Mint Makhana after lunch
Fresh Mint Makhana works as a palate cleanser when you want something after a meal.
6. Roasted chana
A traditional desk snack that deserves a comeback. It is filling and widely available.
7. Dark chocolate
A square of 70% dark chocolate for the 3pm slump.
8. Fruit
A banana, an apple or a guava. No preparation needed.
9. Yoghurt
If your office has a fridge, plain yoghurt with a few seeds is a good mid-morning option.
10. Himalayan Salt & Pepper Makhana
The default desk snack. Himalayan Salt & Pepper has four ingredients, 0g sugar and about 194 kcal a pouch.
Set up the drawer once
Stock up once a week and stop thinking about it. The Daily Ritual Box pairs makhana with chips, and Your Office Bestie is a three-pouch makhana combo. You can also browse the Office Bites collection.
Tips that help
- Replace, do not restrict. Swap your current snack for a better one.
- Use the pouch as the portion.
- Drink water first. Thirst often feels like hunger.