We all know how hard it can be to stay healthy when you’re working in an office. There’s always some reason to bring in cakes and sweets, whether it’s someone’s birthday or a colleague returning from vacation. And let’s not forget those weekly events like “Foodie Friday” or “Elevenses” where someone brings in food for the whole team. Sure, it’s great for team morale, but it’s not so great for our waistlines, especially when the food of choice is often doughnuts.

But hey, I’m not saying we should stop these fun activities. All I’m suggesting is that we could switch up the snacks a bit. There are plenty of healthier options out there that we could use instead of pastries and cakes every week. How about a healthy snack day challenge for the team?

Eating unhealthy, sugary foods can also affect our concentration, making us less productive in the afternoons and potentially causing stress as work doesn’t get done as efficiently. So, healthier snacks could also help keep the office running smoothly.

Now, you might be wondering, what are some healthy snack options? Well, our friends from SportzBits, an online publication for sports gear reviews, have some great suggestions:

1. **Healthy protein bars**: These can be a great alternative to the usual office biscuits or chocolates. Just make sure to watch the sugar content when choosing them.

2. **Fruit bowl**: Fill a bowl with easy-to-eat, non-messy fruits that your colleagues can grab and go back to their desk with. Make sure to clean it out and top it up regularly.

3. **Crudités with dips**: For a savory option, set up a tray of carrot and cucumber sticks with healthy dips like low-fat hummus.

4. **Dark chocolate**: If your colleagues can’t do without chocolate, opt for dark chocolate, which is healthier than milk chocolate. Look for organic and around 70% cocoa for the best quality.

5. **Cheese and olive platter**: Break away from the sweet tradition and offer a savory snack tray with cheese, crackers, olives, and pretzels.

6. **Healthier crisps**: If your team loves crisps, go for healthier options like baked crisps or those made from plants.

7. **Dried fruit chips**: Packs of dried fruit like raisins, dried bananas, or dried apricots can provide a tasty and sweet snack. Just make sure they’re pure fruit, not loaded with added sugar.

8. **Nut bars**: Nuts are great for providing an energy boost and are full of protein. Look for nut-based energy bars, but remind people not to overdo it as nuts are also high in fats.

9. **Nuts**: Offer a selection of individually packed nuts. Just make sure they’re not overly salted or processed.

10. **Cherry tomatoes**: These sweet salad vegetables taste amazing and are just the right size to pop into your mouth.

11. **Savory biscuits and crackers**: As an alternative to biscuits, go for rice crackers or other types of savory biscuits like sesame seed biscuits. Just avoid those overloaded with cheese flavorings and other unhealthy fats.

Working in an office doesn’t have to be a nightmare for our waistlines. With a bit of thought and imagination, we can still celebrate birthdays and holidays while offering snacks that will help keep our energy up and our waistlines down.