10 Healthy, Low-Fat Office Snacks You Must Have

Introduction: Psychologists believe that the purpose of snacking is not just to satisfy hunger, but to relieve stress and resolve internal conflicts. When the lips come into contact with food and the movements of chewing and swallowing are made, it can shift a person's focus away from tension and anxiety. This activates another excitement center in the brain's eating center, which suppresses the tense and excited emotions, ultimately leading to physical and mental relaxation. Sitting in a dull office space for seven or eight hours is not an easy task, especially when you also have to think. Therefore, to reduce work stress, the brain needs timely nutritional supplementation. Keeping some small snacks in your drawer can both satisfy cravings and be healthy. The following are 10 recommended office snacks, characterized by low sugar, low fat, and low calories, allowing you to enjoy them boldly while maintaining the best physical and mental state for the office.

1. Peanuts

Peanuts contain nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins A, B6, E, K, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron. They contain 8 essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids, as well as substances like lecithin, choline, carotene, and dietary fiber. The fat content is 44%-45%, the protein content is 24-36%, and the sugar content is about 20%. They are rich in vitamins B2, PP, A, D, E, calcium, iron, and other vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin. They have the effect of promoting the development of brain cells and enhancing memory. Office workers who are used to sitting for long periods might consider preparing nuts like peanuts, walnuts, and almonds. Sitting at a desk for long hours significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, but regularly eating nuts like walnuts can greatly reduce this risk. However, peanuts are also high in fat, so attention should be paid to the intake amount, as it can easily lead to weight gain.

Homemade Natural Peanut Butter

2. Seaweed

Seaweed contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, with a particularly high iodine content. Regular consumption can prevent skin dullness, dry hair, and slow growth caused by iodine deficiency, reduce fat accumulation in the body, and prevent hypertension and coronary heart disease. Seaweed concentrates various B vitamins from nori, especially rich in riboflavin and niacin. It also contains a good amount of vitamins A and E, and a small amount of vitamin C. Seaweed contains about 15% minerals, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and others necessary for maintaining normal physiological functions. It is particularly rich in selenium and iodine. These minerals help the body maintain its acid-base balance, are beneficial for children's growth and development, and can also help delay aging in the elderly. Moreover, this thin snack won't make you fat because it contains almost no fat and has very little energy! It is especially suitable for office workers who sit for long periods.

Seaweed Egg Rolls

3. Dried Tofu

Dried tofu is rich in nutrients, containing large amounts of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as various minerals needed by the human body such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. During its production, seasonings like salt, fennel, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, and dried ginger are added, making it fragrant and delicious, and it is praised as "vegetarian ham." The prominent nutritional benefit of dried tofu is its high calcium content. The biggest feature of dried tofu is its balanced nutrition: it has protein, fat, and carbohydrates, but none of them are excessive. According to measurements, every 100 grams of dried tofu contains 336 kcal of energy, 731 mg of calcium, and less than 16 grams of fat, so you can eat it without gaining weight. If you miss a meal, eating some dried tofu is a great way to satisfy both cravings and hunger.

Braised Chicken Gizzard and Heart with Dried Tofu

4. Beef Jerky

Beef is the second-largest meat food for Chinese people, second only to pork. Beef is high in protein and low in fat, with a delicious taste that makes it popular, earning it the reputation of "the pride of meats." Beef jerky contains various minerals and amino acids needed by the human body, preserving the chewy flavor of beef without spoiling for a long time. At the same time, beef jerky is rich in protein, contains some heme iron, and is also relatively high in zinc, selenium, and various B vitamins. It can nourish the spleen and stomach, strengthen muscles and bones, and benefit qi and blood. Compared to small packages of spiced beef, beef jerky contains less water and salt. Additionally, the nutritional value of spiced beef is roughly half that of beef jerky of the same weight, but its sodium content is twice as high. It is especially suitable to eat when your stomach is empty.

Oven-Baked Beef Jerky

5. Preserved Plums

Plums are beneficial, and first of all, they have wide-ranging uses in medicine. Huangyao has a custom: when you have a headache, apply dried plum flesh to your navel; also, cook green plum juice and bottle it. Once you have a stomach ache, dip a chopstick in a little to taste, and the pain will be relieved. Some also soak green plums in baijiu (white liquor), and after sealing it for a month, it becomes a mellow and delicious green plum wine. Drinking a little green plum wine regularly can treat rheumatic bone pain, sprains and strains, and lumbar muscle strain. Li Shizhen wrote in "Compendium of Materia Medica": "Plum is a fruit for the blood; it strengthens the stomach, astringes the lungs, warms the spleen, stops bleeding, resolves phlegm, reduces swelling and detoxifies, promotes saliva production to quench thirst, and treats chronic cough and diarrhea."

Not only that, plums and olives are rich in organic acids that can promote the secretion of digestive juices and help digestion. Therefore, preserved plums and olives are suitable for eating between meals or after meals, rather than when you are extremely hungry. Preserved plums and olives can also freshen your breath, making them an indispensable item in the office snack list!

Spiced Pork Ribs with Preserved Plums