Brain food: working from home snacks that can help you focus

We may be in March already but somehow the idea of going back to the office anytime soon seems a very distant thought. A common problem faced when working from home is food. Having access to the food cupboards all day means the majority of us are snacking a lot more often during the day. Whether we’re hungry or not, we just can’t help it. However, in the middle of a pandemic our health has never been so important. Here at 1-fix, we’ve compiled a list of healthy snacks that don’t need much preparation to help you when you get peckish or just feel like you need a little something to boost your morale during a busy work day.

The nutrients

Sometimes the only thing to cheer you up after a long stressful day at work is a nice big chocolate bar or bag of sweets. Although these are a good fix some of the time, they aren’t rich in the nutrients needed to help with brain function.  Minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc contribute towards healthy brain function which is important when working from home due to the many distractions and obstacles faced. In order for the body to absorb as much of these minerals from foods as it can, vitamin C and the vitamin B complex should also be consumed as these help the absorption. Below are some examples of snacks full of these nutrients to help you achieve a more productive work day.

Savoury snacks

Nuts: Nuts are one of the most well-rounded nutrient rich foods to snack on, especially for healthy brain function. A good selection of nuts include almonds, cashews, peanuts and brazil nuts. Brazil nuts also contain selenium which helps the function of the immune system- vital during these times.

Bread: In the UK, white bread is required by law to be fortified with iron, and wholemeal bread contains magnesium and zinc.  This means that a slice of toast contains essential nutrients for your brain. Toppings on your toast are a great way to increase the amount of nutrients too. For example, butter contains calcium needed for bone health, and peanut butter is high in magnesium and zinc for your brain health.

Houmous: Houmous is made using chickpeas so is rich is iron and zinc, making it a great snack to have whilst working. Dipping vegetables into the houmous is a good way to further the amount of nutrients in the snack. Good dipping vegetables include peppers (high in vitamin C) and carrots (high in vitamins A and C).

Sweet snacks

Dried fruits: Dried fruits such as apricots, dates and raisins are rich in iron. They make a great snack during the work day as they are usually purchased ready-to-eat so require no preparation. They also last a long time so can be picked at during the day.

Bananas: Another great snack to have is a banana. They are high in a lot of vitamins and minerals such as those required for brain health. They can be eaten alone, or can be used as a topping for cereal or even drizzled with some chocolate sauce. A recommended chocolate sauce low in calories is the Sweet Freedom Choc Shot.

       
Berries: A great way to increase your vitamin C intake is to snack on mixed berries. These can include strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Like bananas, mixed berries can be enjoyed in a variety of ways such as in a smoothie, on their own or on top of cereals. If prepared the night before, berries are an easy and quick snack to grab out of the fridge in a rush.

Conclusion

Hopefully you’ve found these tips helpful and will keep them in mind next time you feel a little peckish. These ideas are a great start to switch up your snacks and along with a varied balanced diet they are a great way to ensure you are staying healthy during these unprecedented times.

It seems like the light is at the end of the (very long) tunnel now with a roadmap to get out of lockdown - so hopefully we'll all be able to get back the office soon, but until then we at 1-fix hope you all stay safe and healthy.