Introduction: Around three or four in the afternoon, your lunch has mostly digested, and your stomach starts to growl with hunger, making you want to find something to eat. In fact, mild afternoon hunger isn't such a bad thing! If you ate too little for lunch or were too rushed, it's perfectly normal for your stomach to rumble around 4 PM. So, don't feel guilty; go ahead and eat. It not only replenishes your energy but also helps you maintain your figure.
1. Plain, Filled-Free Cookies
Cookies have always been popular with office workers because they are easy to store and convenient to eat. The basic principle for choosing healthy cookies is to opt for plain, unfilled cookies, as they will be lower in fat and sugar. For example, crackers, Job's tears biscuits, and graham crackers are all healthy options. However, there are exceptions; for instance, regular digestive biscuits tend to be higher in fat. Cookies labeled "high-fiber" are not necessarily low in fat, as many high-fiber cookies are also made with a significant amount of fat.
2. Plain Pretzels
3. Instant Cereal
Certain breakfast cereals can also be eaten as snacks because many are high in fiber, low in fat, and fortified with vitamins and minerals, making them nutritious. Oat squares, for example, can be eaten without milk. If convenient, you can also add skim milk to any type of cereal.
Homemade Trail Mix Cereal
4. Fortified Milk
If you're not very hungry, just drinking a healthy beverage can be refreshing. You can keep UHT (ultra-high temperature) skim milk in the office. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder, Milo, Horlicks powder, or Ovaltine to make your own high-calcium, healthy, and delicious drink.
5. Yogurt
Yogurt is rich in lactic acid bacteria and calcium, which can promote digestion and absorption in the gut, help break down fat, and prevent constipation by stopping the buildup of toxins in the body. Additionally, yogurt has a certain satiating effect; when you feel hungry, a cup of yogurt can quickly make the hunger disappear. There are also many types of yogurt on the market that contain fresh fruit pieces, which are both delicious and nutritious.
6. Dark Chocolate
Most women can't resist chocolate, but when they think about dieting, they tend to avoid it. In reality, this is unnecessary. Dark chocolate isn't actually that high in calories and is rich in nutrients. Eating a moderate amount of dark chocolate can not only help control your diet but also improve your digestive function, boost your body's metabolic efficiency, and aid in weight loss.
Intense Dark Chocolate Mousse
7. Red Dates
Red dates are a very natural source of iron. As the saying in Traditional Chinese Medicine goes: "Five red dates a day keeps youth at bay." For hardworking career women, red dates are a great way to nourish yourself at three in the afternoon. In our office drawers, red dates can serve as a constant supply of nutrition.
8. Whole-Wheat Fiber Cookies
Many women can't resist the temptation of crispy, fragrant cookies. When choosing, it's best to avoid wafer cookies, shortbread cookies, and filled cookies, as they are extremely high in calories. Two filled cookies alone can contain up to 360 kcal. To satisfy a craving while being healthy, choose high-fiber whole-wheat cookies. They are made with whole-wheat flour, which is rich in fiber and can help with intestinal motility and digestion.
9. Walnuts
Walnuts are the most famous brain-boosting food because they are rich in various vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. In particular, alpha-linolenic acid and vitamin E are very beneficial for improving memory. Additionally, alpha-linolenic acid can be converted into DHA, a major component of the brain, making walnuts the most suitable health snack for people engaged in mentally demanding work.
Walnut Cookies
Super Black Moose
Meat loaf
Butter cake