As an unsolicited software update to our “ 40 Healthy Snacks To Keep At The Office' article from earlier in the year, we bring you a list of 18 more:
The brand itself compares these to potato chips, but it works better to think of these as a chip/fry hybrid, with a softer, airier crunch than, say, the dehydrated potato shards making up a bag of Lays, but without the comforting warmth of a paper bag full of crinkle cuts. Something all three have in common is the rate at which you’ll mindlessly consume them, but at least the Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps are much lower fat, calories, and sodium, and a higher tally of fiber molecules.
Maple water is a slightly sweeter version of water water, and is often touted as the next “coconut water” (alongside cactus water)—maybe because like coconut water to coconuts, maple water tastes nothing like what you know to be the flavor of maple, and has things like electrolytes. Of course, you could sub in real water, but if you’re the type that needs an exotic twist that the water cooler just cannot provide, Happy Tree Maple Water could be your slightly sweeter version of that.
Maybe you’re a soda drinker! First let’s acknowledge that there are those times that will call for a cold can of aspartame-ridden Diet Dr. Pepper, and not even the fizziest and brownest of kombuchas will quell the urge. That’s OK. But if you indulge in a fizzy sugary drink as frequently as every day, consider one of the many fruity and gingery varieties that GT's Enlightened Synergy Trilogy Kombucha has to offer. They taste great and at $3 a bottle, you’ll find yourself cutting back on the soda-turned-kombucha habit sooner than you’d imagine.
Replacing a rich, drizzly caramel, whole-milky, poetically-from-Starbucks concoction with a standard ice coffee, maybe still some whole milk, and a droplet of stevia is probably your best route, but for something that hits somewhere a bit higher on the richness scale, try one of Califia Farms Iced Coffee with almond milk flavors. Sure you can mix almond milk, iced coffee, and a bit of flavored syrup together on your own for cheaper, but just like how homemade chocolate milk is never quite as good as the pre-made stuff in the carton, the Califia Farms Salted Caramel Cold Brew with Almond Milk is just thicker and better overall.
Momofuku Milk Bar Karlie's Kookies , Carly's Better Bites Variety Pack , and things like Emmy's Organics Macaroons are not “better options' unless you’re particularly sensitive to things like gluten and dairy. But any educated, calorie-counting consumer knows to read labels before chomping down two Karlie’s Kookies instead of an Oreo four-pack. In fact, if you look at things like calorie count, fat content, and freaking delicious taste, they’re pretty indulgent. Less so if you take into account that sales of Karlie’s Kookies have generated over 600k free school meals to kids who would laugh at this article because what kind of crazy people spend money on $4 plant waters? Seriously, enjoy as many Karlie’s Kookies as you like.
Echoing the truths behind the rich calorie count, fat content, and taste of the items above, Justin's Classic Almond Butter is neck-in-neck with the choice of the choosy moms, Jif Peanut Butter (no crust). Justin’s feels like a justifiable “better choice' due to its two simple ingredients and lack of sodium, although it still tastes nice and fatty and indulgent.
Simply Gum has set out to raise awareness of the fact that most gums have a lot of mysterious artificial ingredients—some of which are shared with things like car parts and school glue. (If that doesn’t freak you out as much as maybe it should [ed note: me neither], consider that this stuff is not biodegradable. See? Kind of makes you think.) Simply Gum’s endgame being, of course, to suggest you buy their all-natural gum with six photogenic, familiar ingredients. Gum is great in general for curbing appetite as some snacks just taste weird when your mouth has a minty coating.
Siggi's is a “skyr,” an Icelandic-style yogurt, and the easiest way to describe it is that it’s essentially Greek yogurt. What sets Siggi’s apart is that they don’t use farmers that use growth hormones and their products don’t contain what they refer to as “dreadful' artificial sweeteners. Throw some chia seed and quinoa-laden Ancient Grain Granola on top.
Philosophie Superfood Powders are just that: powdered superfoods. You can add a scoop to a brownie recipe and bake with them, cook with them by adding a scoop to a soup recipe, but at work you can take a banana, some frozen berries, and some almond milk and make smoothies. This is assuming your workplace has a blender.
Himalania Dark Chocolate Goji Berries are the healthy person’s slightly chewier answer to Raisinets. We have yet to find their version of Peanut Butter M&M’s. Sorry. Though they did give a valiant stab at Thin Mints (Oatmega’s Mint Chocolate Crisp), and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Raw Revolution’s Almond Butter Cup). Both taste similarly enough, but for those of you expecting crispy little cookies and chocolate coated, ribbed disks, be warned: these are dense, chewy energy bars.
There’s not much more to say about Skinny Pop other than it’s delicious and has a suggested serving size of almost 4 cups.
If you enjoyed pudding cups as a child and you’re fond of letting your crunchy cereal sit in a puddle of milk before consuming, you’ll enjoy the soft, sweet munchiness of the Chia Pod Bircher Muesli in Cranberry & Pistachio.
Beef jerky is just diet bacon. Krave turkey beef jerky is the diet version of diet bacon.
Photographed by Tom Newton and Eva Alt. Check out our first healthy office snack roundup here.
