7 Healthy Snacks for Work That Will Keep You Focused

Great snacks produce great work

There’s nothing quite like enjoying that delicious snack in the break room during a long workday. Choosing a snack that sits well after the break, however? That’s far more challenging. Perhaps it’s time to cut the guesswork—we’ve compiled several healthy snacks for work to help you stay focused and productive throughout the day. And they taste great!

7 healthy snacks for work that will keep you focused

1. Nuts

If you want tasty breakroom snacks with measurable positive benefits, it’s hard to go wrong with nuts. Each nut has its own nutritional benefits, but most are low in carbohydrates and high in nutrients like vitamin E and selenium. Many nuts also contain antioxidants that reduce cholesterol, including LDL cholesterol, a major contributor to heart disease. Finally, studies show that nuts may counter the negative effects of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and inflammation.

There’s a huge variety to choose from—almonds, cashews, pecans, macadamia nuts, pistachios and more. You can choose a single nut or blend your favorites, and you’ll still be enjoying a delicious snack. Just check whether your co-workers have any severe nut allergies before bringing some to the office.

2. Dried Fruit

Fresh fruit is an excellent snack option, but its short shelf life makes it pricey to replace during the off-season. Dried fruit—such as raisins, cranberries, mangos, apples and bananas—can be an excellent year-round alternative.

When fruit dries, it’s mostly water and vitamin C that disappears. Everything else remains in a highly condensed form, including beneficial nutrients and fibers. Meanwhile, dried fruit lasts for months compared to fresh fruit and its small size makes it easier to store.

That’s just scratching the surface of dried fruit’s health benefits. According to the latest research, dried fruit consumption has an association with reduced cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and various cancers. For consumers, the main thing to avoid is additional sugars—after all, dried fruit already has its own natural sugars and it tastes great!

3. Chocolate

Chocolate can be a surprisingly healthy workplace snack if you choose the right kind. Dark chocolate bars with high cocoa levels are rich in nutrients like iron, fiber and magnesium. Cocoa also contains oleic acid—a type of fat that appears in substances like olive oil—which significantly reduces cholesterol and conditions like inflammation.

Along with the nutritional benefits, dark chocolate appears to boost mental function. For example, this study notes that flavanol cocoa improves blood flow to the brain, driving corresponding improvements in memory and overall alertness. In a work setting, those benefits can make dark chocolate an ideal productivity booster.

Learn more about supporting healthy food habits in the office when you read Healthy Office Meals: It’s About Culture as Much as Calories.

4. Greek yogurt

Unsweetened Greek yogurt is packed with nutritional value. For every seven ounces of low-fat yogurt, you’ll get 20 grams of protein and almost half the daily value of selenium. Greek yogurt also includes high volumes of vitamin B12, vitamin A and calcium, impacting everything from bone development to muscle recovery. The literature also suggests that Greek yogurt contributes to low body fat, decreased weight gain and smaller waist circumference. If you buy unsweetened yogurt with an LAC seal, the probiotics within will increase bacterial diversity in your gut.

5. Popcorn

Popcorn might be the most unassuming snack on this list, but it has impressive nutritional features all the same. The trick is to avoid high-fat, high-salt seasoning that’s commonly used in movie theaters. Without it, popcorn has a low calorie count of 67 calories per two cups of popcorn. Air-popped kernels also count as whole grains with more fiber per serving than whole wheat bread. Popcorn is even associated with reduced heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The benefits don’t stop there. According to the American Health Association, air-popped popcorn is high satiety, which means it feels more filling than equivalent volumes of other snack foods. 

6. Cottage cheese

Cheese and dairy products don’t always appear on healthy snacks for work lists, but cottage cheese is an exception. Roughly 70% of the calories in low-fat cottage cheese are made of protein, and that’s before we get into B vitamins, phosphorus and selenium. Even better, eating it contributes to an extensive list of potential benefits, including weight loss, muscle gain, high bone strength and reduced insulin resistance. While people who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy should give it a pass, cottage cheese can be a delicious snack—especially when mixed with fruit or nuts.

7. Granola

Granola is highly nutrient-dense and includes micronutrients like zinc, folate and vitamin D. It can also contribute to weight loss, reduce hypertension and counter total and LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Best of all, granola tastes great combined with other items on this list, particularly dried fruit and nuts, or on top of Greek yogurt. Simply find the mix that’s right for you and enjoy your healthy snacks at work, whether during a break or at your desk. For a healthier option, look for brands that are lower in sugar. There are even grain-free varieties! 

Let Walmart Business supply your break room

Your team may love chocolate or popcorn, but you still need someone to supply your break room. Walmart Business can help with hundreds of different healthy snack options that can be enjoyed anywhere at the office. And if you sign up for a Walmart Business+ membership, you’ll gain access to free shipping,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards back for purchases over $250.³ You might even save over $500 a year.⁴ That’s a lot of snacks! Learn more here.

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply. 

³Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).