Sweet Pickings: The 6 Best Fruits for Office Snacks
It’s halfway through the workday and you’re starting to feel that little dip in energy. What do you do?
- Pour (another) cup of coffee and hope it does the job;
- Scarf down a sugary snack;
- Do a bunch of planks or run around the office a few times.
Or…you could eat some fruit.
Hang on, don’t click away yet. Fruit is pretty much the ideal office snack. It’s sweet, tasty, filling, and usually way, way healthier than the candy bar or chai latte you were thinking about getting. Fruit is often loaded with fiber and nutrients, both important components of a proper diet, and they can provide that much-needed energy boost.
But what kind should you keep on hand for your colleagues? Not everyone likes every kind of fruit. And despite its general goodness, not all fruit is created equal when it comes to healthy eating (or taste). Also, fruit is perishable, and can be messy.
We took all those things into account when we put together this list of the six best fruits for offices. They’re healthy, range from tart to sweet, and are generally pretty easy to clean up. They’re also typically available year-round, though they may be easier to find or less expensive in some seasons.
The 6 Best Fruits for Office Snacks
1. Raspberries
Raspberries are healthy and filling, so they rank pretty high on our office snack list. Low in sugar and high in fiber (with eight grams per cup), raspberries also happen to be delicious and packed with antioxidants.
2. Blueberries
Blueberries are a very close second, thanks to both their deliciousness and their potential positive impact on your brain. (Seriously, scientists have studied how blueberries improve cognitive function and even mood.)
3. Apples
So it turns out the old phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” may actually have some legs. Apples are jammed with nutrients and antioxidants, and they’ve even been linked to heart health. Pro Tip: Eat them with the skin on to maximize your fiber intake. They’re also among the easiest fruits to transport; just grab one and go!
4. Oranges
Oranges are famed for containing a ton of vitamin C (okay, it’s more like 70 milligrams, but that’s a lot in one serving). But oranges are also great sources of fiber, potassium, and calcium. They do have a fair amount of sugar, so go for the whole fruit (with its fiber) rather than juice. They can also get a bit messy if you’re peeling them quickly, so keep a paper towel close at hand.
5. Kiwis
Kiwis are another vitamin C powerhouse, but again, you’ve got to eat them with the skin to get at their fiber content. Vitamin C isn’t just good for your immune system, by the way; it also helps wounds heal and can improve your mood.
6. Avocados
Let’s clear one thing up first: yes, avocados are a fruit. They’re also one of the tastiest ways to get monounsaturated fat, which is a big deal for your heart.
Fruit Might Just Be the Perfect Snack
In case you hadn’t realized it, the fruits listed above all have one thing in common: vitamin C. Okay, they also have varying levels of fiber, antioxidants, and other important nutrients. But overall, almost any kind of fruit is going to be a snack that tastes good and is good for you.
A few other fruits we like are:
- Guava: Like the apple, you’ll want to eat this fruit with the skin on to max out your fiber and minimize cleanup.
- Bananas: They’re practically a meal unto themselves, and extremely portable. Just be wary of keeping them out too long; most go mushy within a few days if they’re not refrigerated.
- Cherries: They’re small, they’re sweet, and they have heaps of fiber and potassium. Yes, they have pits, so you’ll need a bowl or napkin to spit them into. As a side note, cherries are easiest to obtain in the spring and summer.
- Grapes: Grapes are sweet, come in a variety of sizes, and are fairly easy to snack on and clean up (just throw the stems out when you’re done). They can also last a bit longer (sometimes a couple of weeks!) than other fruits when refrigerated.
But really, this is just scratching the surface. You’ve got a lot of choices when it comes to fruits, and honestly, you really can’t go wrong! How you bring it in is totally up to you. Maybe your business keeps the kitchen stocked with fruit. Or maybe you just let your team know they can order a side of fruit or even an entire fruit dish with many of the box lunch meals Waiter delivers.
Who knows — someone might want to swap out French fries for a side of strawberries or cantaloupe. So go ahead, order the fruit cup! We’ll make it happen.