I don’t wakeup hungry, but usually by about 9 or 10 am (when I’ve been at work for a couple of hours), I have a sick feeling in my tummy from not eating. I usually just wait until about 1 to eat a late lunch, telling myself that the 12 hour fasting idea is good.
I know I need protein in the morning, but can’t stand the thought of bringing a boiled egg with me to work. (I hate boiled eggs.) Protein bars have so much sugar. I am allergic to nuts. I’ve brought cheese and crackers to work before, but folks say that cheese is just a block of fat.
Any ideas on mid-morning snacks, or am I doomed to being hangry for about 15 hours a week?
Might it be a good idea to eat something first thing in the morning even if you’re not hungry? Would that carry you through until lunchtime?
I never used to eat breakfast, but now I need to because I take pills in the morning that must be taken with food, and I’m not willing to take medicine in front of my colleagues at work. It turned out to be easy to get used to eating something early in the morning.
I’m not an immediately in the morning eater either, but you could bring a yogurt or a banana (or apples or other fruit) with you and that will get rid of that empty stomach feeling. In addition to a yogurt or a piece of fruit, I also keep almonds and Kashi protein bars in my drawer (I’m partial to the cherry/chocolate) sometimes I’ll bring a cheese stick from home. I watch my carb/fat/protein balance and adjust depending on what I eat for morning so if I load on carbs in the morning, I cut back the rest of the day and vice-versa. I don’t eat much meat so am always looking for sources of protein more than anything else to keep it all in balance. I used to drink 2 or 3 cups of office coffee, but now I bring a coffee protein shake that I make at home and bring, that also keeps the stomach hungries down. I used to be able to not eat until noon, but I’m become much more aware of spreading my food out over the day and now even eat a late night carb/snack to keep my morning glucose in check as I was seeing fasting glucose numbers creeping up instead of never eating after 8 like I did when I was young,
My go to is 1/2 cup of fage plain greek yogurt with 1/2 apple cut up into it. The yogurt is not the tart type, is very rich and creamy, and with the apple (I like pink lady) is quite filling.
Are you able to eat pumpkin seeds? https://www.superseedz.com/ sells nut-free pumpkin seeds, and my family members with multiple severe food allergies have been eating them safely for years.
Do you drink coffee? I drink a lightened up version of “bulletproof coffee” which is coffee, 1 tsp collagen (it’s a protein, and helps with skin hair and nails), and 1 tsp coconut oil blended up in a blender. Having some protein and fat in the coffee takes hunger pangs away until lunch. You could also do a protein shake/smoothie.
Can you get Kodiak Cakes mix in your area? The mix is higher in protein and can be used to make the best muffins. A batch of those could be made on the weekend and frozen to take to work along with some fruit or veggies. Their website has a ton of great recipes: https://kodiakcakes.com/delicious-recipes/
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with cheese, in moderation. Just not full fat Brie everyday! I like @bajamm’s idea for a sandwich. No rule morning snacks need to be breakfast foods.
I am not hungry when I get up either, but I try to eat something just to get my blood sugar up. Usually it’s just a small piece of toast with some butter and a lot of coffee. By mid-morning I am starving. What I want is protein and something savory, not sweet. Leftovers from the previous night make a really good mid-morning snack. Why not bring in a small thermos of soup or meat and rice to have for your second breakfast?
Then you can have a normal lunch at around 1 or so.
I just can’t eat first thing when I get up so usually have something when I get to work. Used to be a protein drink but the fat in them seems to make me have to run to the bathroom and I can’t run right now (foot) so they are out. I keep some delmonte fruit refreshers at work and love the grapefruit ones so had been having them when I get to work. But my rosacea is having a flare currently and I can’t take the doxycycline on an empty tum or, as I learned the hard way, apparently after just grapefruit so now I am eating a banana.
I make a batch of “egg muffins” on Sunday evening. 8 eggs and some milk. Then I put in whatever (ham and cheese, spinach and feta, etc.) spay the muffin tin and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 2 each morning. Or a piece of Ezekiel bread toasted with a sunflower butter and jam. Or sliced honey crisp with a piece of really sharp cheddar cheese. Or I’ll do the wedges of laughing cow cheese on a brown rice cake. Or Trader Joe’s has Ramen soup in a cup that is ok. (I don’t usually enjoy sweet for breakfast so I’ll have weird combinations) Hummus and carrots.
My sister makes ‘egg bake cups’ - basically mini quiches (veggie, or meat) without crusts in muffin tins. Package them individually, freeze and take one with you. By mid morning it will be defrosted and/or you could heat in microwave.
Hi protean, low carb - wish I could eat eggs.
I have a feeling you’re looking for “grab and go” food - so nothing you have to prepare ahead of time or in batches??
In that vein:
Mini hummus w/raw veggies or whole wheat pita
A couple slices of deli turkey (or other meat) - cut it in bit sized pieces
Apple and cheese
Cheese sticks
Cottage cheese sprinkled with salt and pepper (you can buy individual cups of this as well)
Scrambled egg (mix an egg with a fork and pop in the micro for one minute)
Aussie Bites (also available at Costco) https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Bakery-Organic-Aussie-Bites/dp/B00OD2BRKS
Oatmeal. You can make it in the microwave. Add some dried cranberries or raisins. Or a chopped up apple and a little cinnamon. I like fresh raspberries in mine, too.
I like to make a container of cut up raw vegetables and a dip made with low fat sour cream or yogurt. I keep it in the fridge and have my own little crudite cup when I need a snack.
