Boost Productivity With These 10 Healthy Office Snacks

Whether you are a rookie or a veteran in the workplace, you want to stay dynamic and full of energy all day long. Some snacks are highly processed and loaded with fat, sugar, and salt. Eating these foods will make you sleepy and lethargic. Healthy foods and snacks are less processed and loaded with high nutrition, which will boost your energy and improve your productivity.  

Be at your best at work and take a look at our top 10 healthy office snacks as advised by top Food Therapy coach, Anna Na. Some are easy to find, while others may be more challenging. Don’t fret! We’ve included where to buy each snack.

French supermarket Carrefour is a firm favorite among expats and natives alike, who are looking for quality products at affordable prices. The following snacks are available at Carrefour 1018 Changning Rd. 

RAISINS

Supplements qi and blood. Those who always feel fatigued should eat a little bit each day. It’s also suitable for those who suffer from anemia or heart disease. Be careful not to eat too many as they can make you feel windy!

PEANUT BUTTER

Appropriate peanut intake protects our stomach. If your work doesn’t allow you to have three meals regularly, you may keep some peanuts with you. But don’t eat too much, only take 20-30 grains each time. Peanut is also an anti-aging food. You may consider walnuts if you are allergic to peanut. 

DARK CHOCOLATE

It’s not all doom and gloom on this list! Chocolate supplements energy fast. It’s regarded as a placebo when you are feeling down and tastes great too! Just a square or two is all you need to boost your mood and get focused on work again in no time.

APPLES

In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine, apples are neutral in nature and therefore suitable for everyone. They assist in the digestion process and help soothe the nerves, so make sure you add one to your lunch to keep you upbeat for the second half of your working day.

For harder to find snacks and ingredients, it’s better to stick to Chinese medicine shops such as Cai Tong De on 268 Zhongshan Rd. Here’s what you can find there:

CHEN PI (DRIED TANGERINE PEEL)

It may not be the most visually appealing snack on our list, however Chen pi, or dried tangerine peel, is very nutritious and healing. It helps to regulate qi, invigorate your spleen, remove dampness and phlegm. Throw some peel in a tea and enjoy it’s unique flavor. 

GINGER BROWN SUGAR TEA

Ginger Brown Sugar Tea is so delicious you may want to drink it all day! It helps to remove coldness, and promote circulation of qi and blood which is perfect for this time of year. It’s suitable for those who feel cold, suffer from stomach pain, or for female abdominal pain during menstruation. It’s the perfect drink in cold air-con rooms, however people with internal heat or fever shouldn’t drink it.

Based in the heart of Tianzifang is the Taikang Lu Market where you’ll find fruit, meat and harder to find Chinese medicines, herbs and flowers. Head to Lane 210 Taikang Lu to find these snacks:

CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA

Helps to remove extra liver qi. It’s a good drink in spring but also suitable for these winter months. When you feel angry at your boss or want to argue with your co-worker, chrysanthemum tea can help you to solve these issues due to its natural soothing properties.

SEABUCKTHORN

Seabuckthorn is wild fruit with a lovely, vibrant color. It helps to resolve phlegm, relieve cough, regulate metabolism, and remove blood stasis. If you feel stuffed in the chest from the cold, brew a cup of sea buckthorn juice. It’s heart healthy food and many seabuckthorn juices are sold online if you can’t make it to the market. Furthermore, you may buy ChaJi Ke Li沙棘颗粒 in drug stores and online as well. It’s used as both food and medicine. Diabetics and pregnant woman should avoid. 

ROSE FLOWER AND HEHUAN FLOWER TEA

Perhaps towards the end of a hard day a work you need a little pick me up. Instead of reaching for coffee, pour yourself a cup of rose flower tea instead. It helps to regulate qi and remove stagnation while also helping to relieve depression.

LONGAN

You’ve probably seen these intriguing fruits hanging around fruit shops. Longan supplements qi and blood, and nourishes the heart and spleen. It’s a tonic food for those who always sleep late. Two reasons may cause a stuffed feeling in the chest: phlegm and deficiency in the heart. Seabuckthorn is effective at removing phlegm, while longan supplements heart qi. 

Contributing Author: 

Anna Na is a registered Food Therapy coach. She studied TCM based food therapy for 10 years. Her work inspires many people worldwide to cook and eat healthy. Her popular food therapy blog (www.healthy-chinese-recipe.com) counts top professionals such as Dr. Thomas McGuire, professor of health economics at Harvard Medical School and her work has been featured on NPR.

Related Articles