10 Healthy Snacks Teachers Should Have in Their Desk Drawer

Eat?! I Don’t Have Time for That!

Healthy eating, especially healthy snacks, is significant in anyone’s life, including teachers. During the day, teachers are on the run. Trying to fit time in to use the bathroom can even be tricky! Eating? This is put on the back burner on many occasion! Between making copies, parent phone calls, and grading, sometimes we forget to eat, and often there is not enough time to eat a full lunch. This is where healthy eating and healthy snacks come into play.

According to Fitness Blender, teaching is a “moderate activity” occupation. This means the job of a teacher is not completely sedentary: “During an hour these careers require roughly 920 steps, which adds up to 7360 steps during the full 8 hours. This activity, along with energy required for bodily function, adds up to a total of 127.5 calories burned per hour, or 1020 throughout the full working day.” A teacher takes many steps in their day, which equates to burning serious calories in our job.

Honestly, teachers need fuel. If they can’t get a full meal in during their prep time, it is essential to have healthy snacks at their reach, whether it is in their top, bottom or middle drawer. I know. It’s easy to grab the candy on the main office desk or treats in the faculty room; believe me…I am guilty of that too. Let’s be honest–this is not healthy. If you can’t eat a full meal, than you should have a plan B, and have access to healthy, quick snacks.

I thought it was essential to put together a list of healthy snacks you can put in your bottom drawer of your desk or on a cabinet shelf in your room. Many of these are personal recommendations, and I often stock up on these items throughout the year. I included the Amazon links below (affiliate links included), and if you are an Amazon Prime member like myself, you can have these snacks at your doorstep in a matter of two days. Boom! Yummy snacks in a jiffy.

Check out my top 10 list of healthy snacks teachers should have in their desk drawer.

10 Snacks to Put in Your Desk Drawer

1. Nature Valley Granola– Granola is such a great snack-it is filling, sweet, and delicious. It is the perfect snack to crave your sweet tooth, but it gives you the essential nutrients you need to crave your hunger.

2. Kind Bars-These are my favorite! I have boxes at home and at school, and they are a perfect go-to snack when you are hungry. I actually use this as my breakfast part II (I usually have a banana for part I). Yum. The Chocolate Sea Salt bars are amazing!

• With 5g of sugar, it’s a satisfying, nutty snack that only seems indulgent, and it an excellent source of protein
• Gluten free, Non GMO, 0g Trans Fat, Kosher

3. Blue Diamond Almond Packs-Almonds are a super food, and they are super good for you. Just Google “Almonds & Health”, and a plethora of websites will inform you how nutritious they are. In addition, they take the hunger pains away.

4. Mixed Nuts Packs-Again, nuts are an exceptional super food and a quick, easy snack. A handful of nuts is perfect to take the edge off!

5. Pop Corners-This is another snack I have at my home and in school. Any type of popcorn is a light, fulfilling snack, and these popcorn bags are is an easy snack to keep in your drawer. The best part is they are Gluten free, and some of them are also Vegan free too. Delicious!

6. BelVita Crackers-In addition to the Kind Bars, this another snack I have at home and at school. If I don’t eat a Kind Bar for breakfast, I will have BelVita Crackers. Made with a blend of whole grains and rolled oats, are gently baked for a slow release of steady energy that fuels you for up to 4 hours. I don’t always eat them for breakfast either; these make for an excellent afternoon boost snack.

7. Quaker Rice Cakes-Ok. Plain rice cakes are just blah. However, Quaker has a few flavored rice cakes that takes the “blah” out of the cake. The caramel, chocolate and apple cinnamon flavors are my jam, and guess what? They are less than 50 calories each! You can even add a little peanut butter to them for an extra boost.

8. Edamame-Edamame is not for everyone, and you have to have an acquired taste for these. If you like salty and soybeans, these are for you. They are loaded with super nutrients-They provide a healthy dose of magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorous, iron, and more. Hey! Give them a try!

9. Fruit Crisps-Yum. Crunch. Yum. I love fruit crisps, especially the apple cinnamon and pear crisps. Here is the spectacular part about fruit crisps-they have the same nutritional value as a regular piece of fruit, they are low in calories, and they are Non-GMO/Vegan/Kosher/Gluten Free/Peanut and Tree Nut Free.

10. Wheat Thins-I LOVE WHEAT THINS, but they can be really addictive. Before you know it, you have eaten more than the recommended serving. Solution-put the suggested serving aside, and put the box away. This is what I have to do for self control.

Other Resources for Healthy Snack Ideas

1. 12 Healthy Snacks Teachers Can Eat on the Run!-World Language Cafe
2. 8 Tasty Non Refrigerated Snack Ideas for Busy Teachers-We Are Teachers
3. 10 Teachers Share the Snacks That Fuel Their Workdays-The Kitchn

I hope you enjoy these recommendations, and you fill your drawer or cabinet with these healthy, delectable, yummy snacks. Happy teaching, and happy, healthy eating! You may also be interested in my latest blog post for new teachers. Check it out HERE.