What is a work snack stash you ask?  Essentially it is a drawer full of friendly non-perishable foods to help curb your appetite when you need to shut it down. 

Now, I’m not one to recommend eating food at your desk while you work, but my motto is “fed is best” when it comes to fueling up or working through lunch.

If working from home, I am also not one to recommend keeping food outside of the main food-focused areas (i.e., the kitchen and eating spaces).  But what we are talking about is a specific, carefully hand-picked drawer filled with your unique snack preferences that can help get you by when those meetings don’t allow for an easy kitchen getaway.

What does a nutritious work snack stash look like? I’ve narrowed it down to fitting into the following parameters: 

• Nonperishable 
• Not messy
• Easy to consume quickly
• Can fit into your drawer 
• Joy is derived from eating it
• Can easily be paired with perishables

In this stash, we have key non-perishable foods that can be paired with perishables in a snap.  The goal with pairing is to combine macronutrients (carb, protein and fat) for better satiety.  Now do you have to do this?  No.  However, it can help to stave hunger off a little longer.  I don’t know about you but if I eat an apple, I can guarantee that in another 20 minutes I need something else.  

Pairing is an excellent way to keep fuller for longer.  This is because the three macronutrients, carbohydrate, protein and fat, work wonderfully together to balance satiety, especially fiber and protein (source).  My rule of thumb is to generally choose at least two of the macronutrients to pair together for a snack.  

Examples of non-perishable and perishable pairings in this Work Snack Stash include the following:

• Triscuits, a non-perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate, can easily be paired with a favorite perishable dip that is full of fat and protein, like a hummus, guacamole or tuna salad
• Raw almonds, a non-perishable fat source (yes, there is also a little carbohydrate and protein in almonds, but it is predominantly a fat source), can be eaten alone or easily be paired with a perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate, like a piece of fruit
• Biena chickpea snacks, a non-perishable hybrid of all macronutrients, can be eaten alone or easily be paired with a perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate, like a piece of fruit
• Seapoint farms edamame, a non-perishable hybrid of all macronutrients, can be eaten alone or easily be paired with a perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate, like a piece of fruit
• Freshly ground peanut butter, a non-perishable fat source (yes there is also a little carb and protein, but it is predominantly fat), can be eaten alone or easily be paired with a perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate, like a piece of fruit – I like banana for this one
• Sardines canned in tomatoes (can also keep tuna or salmon packs here), a non-perishable protein, can easily be paired with a non-perishable fiber-filled carbohydrate like, Triscuits, or a favorite perishable fiber-filled slice of bread, like a Dave’s Killer or any favorite bread

Other items to consider for a work snack stash: 

• Protein bars (THINK, Nugo, PRObar, PureProtein)
• Fruit and nut bars (KIND, That’sIt, Larabar)
• Ready-To-Drink Protein Shake (e.g.,  I like Owyn and Evolve, or you can also try Premier Protein, Muscle Milk, Orgain – just a note while I like the Orgain product, I do not condone the word “clean” in describing any food – source)
• Freeze-dried (not dried) fruit like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries 
• Veggie straws or chips (to be paired with an dip item from perishable list) 
• Once Again single pack peanut butter or the use of a small-size Tupperware to fit a few spoonfuls of a nut butter
• Instant oatmeal (I like the Bob’s Red Mill Cups)
• Packed tuna, salmon, or chicken in cans 
• Jerky (turkey, beef, buffalo)
• Nuts and seeds (raw, unsalted)
• Canned soups 

Can you just have one macronutrient (fat, protein, carbohydrate) by itself?  Of course.  There is no hard rule about how to eat a snack.  I’ve eaten plenty of juicy peaches with nothing else near it. 

For those who don’t want hunger to gnaw away throughout meetings or shifts, I do recommend a pairing approach, and even better, creating yourself a work snack stash.  For those without access to a drawer, a small backpack goes a long way. 

Do you have a favorite snack to eat during the work day?  How do you stash it away? Please share it in the comments below!