From The Straits Times    |

10 essential snacks to have at your office.jpg

#1 Coconut Water
Instead of keeping a hulking coconut in your pantry fridge, opt for packeted coconut water instead – it has electrolytes to replace the minerals lost due to hot weather, so you get an energy boost. Make sure you get pure coconut juice with no additives and added sugar.

#2 Paleo Grass-fed Beef Jerky
Think of it as diet bacon. Often sourced from Australia, grass-fed beef jerky is high in protein and flavour. Paleo grass-fed beef jerky is also preservative-, MSG- and GMO-free, which greatly reduces the sodium content.

#3 Rooibos Tea
While rooibos does not contain caffeine, it does have energising properties, so you’ll still get the energy boost you need. Serve the tea chilled, with a few slices of lemon.

#4 Blueberries
This superfruit is low in sugar and packed with antioxidants. It’s also rich in fibre, so a handful will fill you up till your next meal.

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#5 Popcorn
Drop the bag of potato chips right now. Popcorn, a whole-grain snack rich in dietary fibres, is a much healthier alternative. It’s high in protein, and low in fat, sugar and calories – but only when it’s as unprocessed as possible. Go for low-sodium versions that have low trans-, saturated- and total-fat content.

#6 Dark Chocolate
This is the healthy version of chocolate that you can indulge in – in moderation, of course. Look for higher cocoa percentages – 80 per cent and above – which means more antioxidants, and less sugar and dairy.

#7 Goji Berries
Goji berries are the most nutritionally dense fruit on earth – they’re rich in vitamins A and C, iron, dietary fibre and antioxidants, and low in sugar.

#8 Macadamia Nuts
These are a great source of monounsaturated fats, which can help lower levels of bad cholesterol. Just be sure to avoid the heavily salted or flavoured ones.

#9 Greek Yogurt
With a lower carb and higher protein content than regular yogurt, Greek yogurt is famous for being kind to the waistline. Furthermore, it has vitamin B12 and probiotics, which not only aid digestion but also keep you full a little longer.

#10 Seaweed
This dried snack is best enjoyed unseasoned. It is rich in antioxidants, calcium and chlorophyll – a detoxifying agent that works by attaching itself to and neutralising free radicals. Another upside of seaweed? Its high iron and zinc content keeps hair dark and lustrous.

Expert source: Dr Pooja Vig, owner of The Nutrition Clinic
Main Image: Claire Artman/Corbis, Image of popcorn: 123RF

This story was first published in Her World Magazine September 2015.

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