what's in your desk??

so i really want to know..what do you snack on during the day? because your snacks are a reflection of you, or who you want to be..so i'll let you have a peek into my cookie jar..

on your left, i have some propel packets (much cheaper and convenient, i take these little packets in my purse, and they're perfect if i want to switch up between water and something sweet), a bag of nuts (whole, natural, unsalted), where i rotate between almonds, walnuts and pecans, some myoplex bars (the low carb kind..be careful when choosing protein bars -- lots of them are packed with unnecessary sugar) and of course, my trusty water bottle, giver of life :)

so a breakdown on my daily munchies, and why i chose them:

1) propel packets: i've actually had this box for awhile now, water suffices me 95% of the time. i'm a creature of habit, and once in awhile, i like to live on the wild side and add some sweetness to my drink. for a drink mix, it's not too bad: it's got a decent amount of vitamins C, B6, niacin and other goodies, and it's low calorie (10 calories/serving). Remember, if you're going to use up your daily caloric intake, take advantage of each and every calorie.

2) nuts: they have have HAVE to be unsalted and natural. as unprocessed as possible. if you have to buy the shelled kinds to avoid processing, then so be it. no oil, no salt, nothing. just nut. the reason is nuts are jam packed with protein and fat (the good kind, poly and mono-unsaturated fats) that actually help control cholesterol (low density lipoproteins, for my science nerds out there), and more and more studies are coming out about their wonderful health benefits. it's also a great protein snack (especially for women, who tend to have less of a protein intake than our male counterparts). so don't skimp on the nuts.

3) protein bars: you may see a recurring motif here--i try to include protein in all the snacks i eat. the reason is that protein is less likely to be converted into fat as sugar is. in my desk i have some myoplex low carb bars (cookies and cream if you're wondering the flavor)--and honestly, it tastes like cardboard crap. but it does its job, if i'm running around and i can only fit a bite or two in, i nibble on my bar, grab some nuts, and that holds me over until mealtime. just be careful with the bars you pick--read labels, check ingredients, glean the fine print--just because it's a protein bar or it sounds healthy doesn't mean it is (future post on picking the right bar coming up). these protein bars are also super convenient; i buy in bulk, by the box, so i can stuff one into my purse when i need to chew down on one right after a workout, especially if i'm not eating anytime soon (protein is necessary within 45 minutes after a workout for tissue repair).

4) water: our beloved, dihydrogen monoxide (i'm a science geek at heart, sorry). my job has a water cooler in the break room, so i recycled an old water bottle and keep it handy. i try to drink about two bottles a day (half a gallon roughly), but the recommended intake is a gallon a day. so why not water? what's there not to love about it? it keeps you hydrated, is great for your skin, keeps you in order, and maintains a healthy metabolism. for all my soda drinkers out there: switch to diet, and drink more water. don't waste calories on beverages. liquids are nowhere near as satiating as solid food, so try to make the switch to water (or flavored water, my favorite).

often i pack with me fruit and vegetables to nibble on--an apple, a banana, carrot sticks, boiled broccoli--to make sure i get the fiber i need and to spice things up. i tried a switch up in my diet to raw vegetables (i tried raw broccoli--it's definitely an acquired taste, i'm sticking to steamed), so any recommended veggies i should try are definitely welcome. so far i've done broccoli, carrots and cucumbers, obviously the broccoli was a bust, but i am open minded. boiled eggs are another awesome snack, just throw on some salt and pepper and you have an awesome 6-8 grams of protein in less than 80 calories. pound for pound one of my favorite snacks.

so just a quick recap--your snack box should contain:

1) protein

2) water

3) fruits

4) vegetables of your preference

so let me know, what's in your desk??

smile my lovely :)