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According to market research firm Mintel, 39 percent of Americans surveyed eat cereal bars or snack bars while they're at work. This number strikes me as surprisingly large, and leads me to assume that these bars are popular because of their convenient grab-and-go packaging.
But what if you could concoct work snacks that were just as convenient, but homemade? Here are four snack ideas for foods you can squirrel away in your desk drawer:
Gorp
Combine your favorite cereal, toasted nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and dark chocolate chips in a large bowl. Add unsweetened flaked coconut and dried fruit. Divvy among five snack-size zip-top bags, and place in an airtight container. Bring to work.
Quick bread
Make up some quick breads, wrap slices tight, and cart to work. My two favorites at the moment are this date nut bread and this apricot pecan tea bread.
Peanut butter crackers
Remember those crazy, orange cheese and peanut butter sandwich crackers of your youth? Make your own, without the cheese part. And substitute almond butter or cashew butter if you’re feeling frisky.
Pita crisps
These are my new salty snack obsession. Cut whole wheat pita rounds into triangles, brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and your favorite herb or spice (try rosemary), and bake for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees, until crisp. Flip once halfway through. Cool, and store airtight.
What do you snack on at work? Chime in below!
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Cheryl Sternman Rule is a widely-published food writer and the voice behind the blog 5 Second Rule. Read all of Cheryl's iVillage posts here.
