10 On-The-Go Snacks (No Refrigerator Necessary)

One of the worst things you can do to yourself is get to a point you are so ravenous that by the time you come home from a long day at work or an afternoon full of errands, you raid your cabinets, fridge, and pantry and devour whatever you can get your hands on. This type of pattern only leads to bloated bellies, tighter pants, and feelings of regret. Instead, try stashing these healthy snacks in your car, bag, or desk, so you can quickly and mindfully satisfy your hunger pangs. 1. Trail Mix - make your own dried fruit and nut mix and dish 1⁄3 cup servings. Try a mix of almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and dried apples 2. Protein balls - whip up a batch of homemade protein balls with your favorite flavors. In a medium bowl, combine 3/4 cup of peanut butter, ¼ cup of shredded unsweetened coconut, ¼ cup of dark chocolate chips, 1 tablespoon of flaxseeds, 2tsp vanilla, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 2 cups of rolled oats. Roll into 1 inch balls and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or freezer for 20 minutes. Makes ~25 small balls 3. Popcorn - air pop popcorn and season with a little salt and butter, cinnamon and sugar, or parmesan cheese. You can also try single serving bags of Skinny Pop popcorn for less hassle 4. Fruit - pack a fresh banana, apple or pear to munch on during the day. For an extra treat, pack a serving of your favorite nut butter for dipping    5. Nuts - pick up a box of 100 calorie pack nuts or place a 1/4 cup of your favorite nut variety in a snack-sized baggie to keep in the car or at your desk for an afternoon pick-me-up. 6. Beef jerky - pack a serving of beef jerky for a high protein snack, but beware of the sodium! 7. Rice Cakes with Nut Butter - try a lightly salted rice cake with your favorite nut butter. My personal favorite is an apple rice cake with a tablespoon of natural peanut butter 8. Protein bars - pack your favorite protein/granola bar, but make sure to read the label! Look for something that is low in added sugars, as 10-20g of protein and a short(ish) ingredients list (try Pure Protein, RX bars, think! or Quest bars) 9. Cereal - take a serving of a dry cereal made with whole grains and has around five grams of fiber per serving. Give Kashi GO cereals a try - they are packed with both fiber and protein! 10. Cheese crisps - cut your favorite semi-hard to hard cheese, slice into small pieces, and bake in the oven at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until crisp. If that's too much work, a serving of Whisps will do!