Any Bring-From-Home Snack Ideas?

Photo from Lighthelper on Flickr
Over in Talk, Serious Eats user Ruffles1 asked the community for their bring-from-home snack ideas.
In mid-morning or mid-afternoon, I am STARVING! So, if I have not brought something with me to eat or drink, I will hit the vending machines wherever I am... [But] I try to have something with me, so I can stop the hunger.
We've gotten some good suggestions so far for nibbles from home—sugar snap peas, crackers with sunflower butter, homemade flatbread with Laughing Cow cheese—but there have to be other creative ideas out there. What's your favorite work snack?
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45 Comments:
Instant oatmeal (bulk, not packaged) and swiss miss cocoa mixed with hot water
EeveeV at 7:33PM on 07/23/09
And frozen edamame packets warmed up in the microwave
EeveeV at 7:34PM on 07/23/09
little baggies of nuts or dried fruit, goldfish crackers, dinner leftovers, pudding cups, homemade granola (Nigella Lawson), V8, Babybel cheese, frozen homemade muffins, peanut butter and jam sandwich, yogourt, granola bars, fruit, animal crackers, any dry cereal, chesse and cracker, oita and hummus, baggies of raw veggies, bagel and cream cheese...
PeanutButter at 7:44PM on 07/23/09
low fat string cheese and reduced calorie popcorn.
fatthy at 7:44PM on 07/23/09
home made trail mix is the best!
redhead at 7:46PM on 07/23/09
I don't have a desk job since I work in a hospital setting. So, I keep snacks that won't spoil and can be eaten anytime and anywhere such as coffee-coated almonds, nuts, whole grain crackers, dry cereal, sugar-free granola, dried fruits, freeze-dried berries, string cheese, etc.
almondjoy at 7:47PM on 07/23/09
Dairy milk chocolate or a chocolate filled / cream biscuits or a brownie if I found nearby
Nabeel at 8:04PM on 07/23/09
Mostly fruit. Also, I keep a bag of frozen vegetables and veggie burgers in the kitchen freezer at my office.
MaeMae at 8:28PM on 07/23/09
almonds (I really like the flavored ones from blue diamond), goldfish, popcorn, and sometimes I use the crystal light hunger packets you can add to a bottle.
sammyjrae at 8:40PM on 07/23/09
@EeveeV why buy instant when old fashioned oats cook in the same amount of time in the microwave? Plus they're healthier.
I also keep a jar of popcorn seeds w/ brown paper bags in my locker.
Morrob at 8:54PM on 07/23/09
Popcorn popping is banned in my office! Ridiculous, I know...
I cut up carrots into sticks on Sunday and package them in bags for each day. I bring along a small serving of hummus and a wheat pita. I toast the pita and break into wedges to eat with the hummus and carrots.
If I am craving a sweet snack, I mix a chopped up peach (or whatever similar fruit is around) with a container of greek yogurt. Add homemade granola, or nuts and honey.
cdp1223 at 9:23PM on 07/23/09
Reduced fat white cheddar cheez-its.Chocolate bunnies purchased the day after easter at 1/2 price for emergencies. Splenda.
Cincinnati Nomerati at 9:28PM on 07/23/09
Greek yogurt.
firni at 9:38PM on 07/23/09
How funny you should ask - I'm going to make this Olive Oil Granola. It sounds like a great snack. I make another cherry pumpkin seed crunch type thing and the olive oil granola has me intrigued.
therealchiffonade at 9:54PM on 07/23/09
I've overtaken one drawer in the office fridge that I always keep stocked with fresh fruits and veggies. In addition, my bottom desk drawer holds several varieties of granola/power bars, plus some whole grain Goldfish crackers. I could feed an office staff of five for a week if we every ended up trapped on the third floor of our office building!
dixiesong3131 at 10:00PM on 07/23/09
I make granola bars and various muffins for my OH (I work from home).
brooke29 at 10:21PM on 07/23/09
Yoplait light yogurt in damn near all the flavors!!! They are SO good!!!
I used to hate yogurt, but Yoplait has made me a believer! Best yogurt ever!
jlewfoodie at 10:34PM on 07/23/09
I can't bring snacks to work. They get eaten before lunch the same day.
emilydev at 10:35PM on 07/23/09
By me, in case it wasn't clear.
emilydev at 10:37PM on 07/23/09
trader joes almond, cashew, and cranberries trail mix. or some white cheddar popcorn
kesiegel at 10:49PM on 07/23/09
how i wake up in the morning: fat-free greek yogurt + berries or peaches + walnuts/almonds/pecans + a little sprinkle of brown sugar = yum. it is equally good in the afternoon. or evening.
watermelon or grapes are also really good snacks that fill you up really fast because they are full of water (duh). the yogurt is healthy too, as long as you don't get those single-serving yoplait or dannon containers which are a) wasteful and b) deceptive in that they claim to be healthy but are really laden with corn syrup and artificial flavoring, but that's another story...
and i have no excuse for the brown sugar. It's not healthy, but...it's really good!
itsdelux at 11:42PM on 07/23/09
Since i usually need to work through lunch:
1 peanut butter Nature Valley granola bar + 1 apple/pear/any other portable fruit keeps me going indefinitely..but absolutely MUST eat something yummy for breakfast :)
cakesmurf at 11:58PM on 07/23/09
Man, everyone's work snacks are so healthy. I feel guilty now.
kimbodian at 12:10AM on 07/24/09
Lots of fruit. Granola bars. Babybell light cheese. Carrot sticks. Sugarsnap peas. Cut up red bell pepper. Greek yogurt with honey or jam or fruit or plain... I snack like it's going out of style! I love snacks!
I don't work in an office (I'm a massage therapist), so I don't have a set lunch break every day. Snacking gets me through my day without eating my fingers (which would be bad, since I need them to work).
killatofu at 12:25AM on 07/24/09
Raw almonds and Kashi crackers, cuz anything else I will eat vast amounts of. A fistful of pork cracklins if I feel like being a fatty.
geenersaurus at 12:53AM on 07/24/09
Recently I've been packing a small (1 slice folded) peanut butter and fruit sandwich as a snack. Fresh blueberries are really good with PB, as are peach slices.
I also second the votes for dry cereal. It satisfies that finger-food crunch craving.
rhinny at 3:23AM on 07/24/09
Especially in the summer, frozen blueberries are a great treat! You can get them already frozen at the store, but the best ones are ones you pick yourself, or from a farmers market. You don't need to thaw them out to eat them! Best of all, they are packed with antioxidants but sate my sweet tooth after lunch.
Evelyn at 5:25AM on 07/24/09
Ale.
shoneyjoe at 5:31AM on 07/24/09
granola bars, avocados or tomatoes with salt, bananas, almonds, yogurt, fruit....and coffee. lots and lots of coffee.
juliebugsmama at 8:51AM on 07/24/09
Popcorn popping banned in my office, too, but I don't mind - it stinks up the whole floor! I bring wasabi peas, tamari almonds, apple & cheddar cheese, banana and peanut butter (I put the pb in a tiny tupperware container), baby carrots and hummus, stuffed grape leaves (they travel really well), and string cheese. If it's a rough day I'll resort to dark chocolate or potato chips.
Junie at 9:11AM on 07/24/09
Oh, and hardboiled eggs, too! Packed with the shells on and then peeled at work.
Junie at 9:12AM on 07/24/09
My list!
Mix of roasted/unsalted nuts: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews
Sliced fruit/berries
Mix of crispy veggies: carrots, cucumber, sugar peas, celery, radish
Yogurt
Granola
Pretzels
Panda Licorice
I make batches of muffins and freeze individually and grab and go
Those Clif Kid fruit twisty thingies - Dood, these are good!
Annies fruit snacks - They're weird but deelish.
I also try to bring my lunch and on Friday's I adventure to the food carts in Midtown. YUM.
JeSuisJuba at 9:24AM on 07/24/09
Cracker sandwich packs, because you can always store them at your desk without fear of critters going for them. Yogurt, cherries, wasabi-soy sauce almonds, granola bars, dried fruit.
terplinz at 9:43AM on 07/24/09
@ therealchiffonade - make the olive oil granola - you will not be disappointed! it's like crack. i have everyone in my office hooked on it. i'm not sure i can keep up with the demand (or share any more!)
emoelely at 10:19AM on 07/24/09
I went back to school this year and had to start brown bagging breakfast and lunch. I like soy milk, so I bring juice box sized chocolate soy milks (Silk brand or Trader Joes) and drink that while I munch on some cereal. I also bring granola bars and trail mix (with some dark chocolate thrown in) for snacks. For lunch I bring carrot chips, some grape tomatoes, and often a hummus sandwich. The hummus holds up all day and the sandwich can be toasted if you want something warm. And there is always the standby PB&J.
SMDNY at 10:29AM on 07/24/09
Smoke Almonds and M& M's {together!!}
stigcr at 10:41AM on 07/24/09
@Morrob You're right! I meant the old-fashioned oatmeal you get in bulk, not the the instant kind in the packets. Mind too fast for the fingers.
EeveeV at 10:45AM on 07/24/09
Marcona almonds and a glass of port.
Great in the morning so you can get a head start on drinking before lunch. Great in the afternoon so you can pull through the last hours of work.
codeblue at 11:04AM on 07/24/09
Cut up fruit. Fruit gummies. Olives. Whatever I can get my hands on that's healthy because as people in the office know, my mouth is like a constant slow humming hoover vac.
(port as a snack! LOL!)
Food Monstar at 11:17AM on 07/24/09
A small piece of fruit! Because usually I am craving sweets for a snack.
TheKitchenette at 11:24AM on 07/24/09
V8 and low fat string cheese
nmallory at 12:00PM on 07/24/09
I know popcorn has already been brought up, but here's my twist: I make it at home ahead of time on the stovetop. The benefits of this are great: first, popcorn kernels are super cheap. Second, you can control the health factor, making it with olive oil, etc. Third, you can dress it up or leave it plain. I pre-salt the oil before adding the kernels, then once the corn is popped, I add a little butter and some nutritional yeast. You can do cheese powder, or a selection of herbs. You could even go sweet with some kettle corn recipes. After it's cooled completely, I transfer it to a ziplock bag, which usually lasts several days at the office.
AnaPowell at 12:27PM on 07/24/09
I completely understand why popcorn popping could be banned at a workplace. The number of people who are unable to pop a bag of microwaveable popcorn without burning it is just astounding.
I like plums or cereal or string cheese or chocolate.
nightowl at 1:08PM on 07/24/09
if you have a freezer, frozen green grapes...deeeeeelicious and refreshing.
Green tea and edamame chips. All green snacks. :)
curio at 3:34PM on 07/24/09
Pretzels with hummus or salsa. Also make trail mix with your favorites like dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips etc.Another good thing is keeping a selection of tea and other instant drinks on hand which can sometimes be just as satisfying as a snack.
wilma at 4:19PM on 07/30/09