10 Healthy Foods to Eat When You Hit an Afternoon Slump

Keep your energy up to finish the day strong.

Save Collection

By: Dana Angelo White, M.S., R.D., A.T.C.

Related To:

Photo By: Prostock-Studio; Getty Images

Photo By: Liudmyla Chuhunova; Getty Images

Photo By: Sara Lynn Paige; Getty Images

Photo By: Trejon D'angelo / EyeEm; Getty Images

Photo By: goodmoments; Getty Images

Photo By: ondacaracola photography; Getty Images

Photo By: BWFolsom; Getty Images

Photo By: vaphotog; Getty Images

Photo By: Mizina; Getty Images

Photo By: Juanmonino; Getty Images

Photo By: CarlaMc; Getty Images

Best Foods For Afternoon Energy

There’s nothing more distracting than an afternoon energy slump. Instead of rifling through your drawer for gummy bears, plan out balanced and satisfying snacks to power through your day until dinner.

String Cheese

A surprisingly good way to get a protein-rich snack — cheese sticks have 80 calories and 7 grams of protein apiece. Enjoy with a fruit or a handful of whole grain crackers.

Hummus

Creamy hummus makes a nutritious and crave-worthy snack. Dunk carrot sticks, sliced cucumbers and sliced bell peppers in this satisfying dip.

Oatmeal

This whole grain treat isn’t just for breakfast. Cozy up with a warm bowl of oatmeal (or a cool batch of overnight oats) sprinkled with fruit, nuts or seeds for a fiber-filled afternoon pick-me-up.

Yogurt

Protein, calcium and tummy-pleasing probiotics make yogurt an ideal snack option. Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in lactose, while traditional yogurt is fortified with vitamin D — check ingredient labels to find the best one for your diet.

Avocado

You may think of avocados only as taco toppers but they also make for wonderful snacks, full of healthy fat. Mash and slather ripe avos on crusty bread or cut in half, sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and eat right out of the skin with a spoon.

Trail Mix

Name your favorite combination of nuts, dried fruit, pretzels and dry cereal. Then, keep your customized trail mix on hand, portioned in baggies for immediate munching when those hunger pangs set in.

Nut Butter

A heaping spoonful of nut butter along with apple slices or a few pretzel chips is a healthy snack that feels like a decadent treat.

Tuna Pouches

A portable and convenient serving of protein and omega-3s all wrapped up into a resealable pouch. Look for brands that offer fun flavors like lemon pepper, jalapeno and sundried tomato.

Jerky

Sink your teeth into the ultimate one-ingredient, hand-held snack. Jerky is a shelf-stable and affordable high-protein food that comes in a wide variety of flavors.

Cottage Cheese

One small container of this dairy favorite contains almost 20 grams of hunger-defeating protein. Dress up with sweet or savory toppings for hours of energy.

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Lemon Rinds

Korean Fried Chicken

Farmer's Pasta

Shepherd's Pie Potato Bowls

Vegan Sugar Cookies

On Tonight

The Great Food Truck Race

Tournament of Champions

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

The Pioneer Woman

The Kitchen

Delicious Miss Brown

Kardea Brown

Ree Drummond

Ina Garten

Sunny Anderson

Bobby Flay

Valerie Bertinelli

Guy Fieri

Giada De Laurentiis

Molly Yeh

Step-by-Step Tutorials

Browse Meal Plans

Sheet Pan Panzanella with Feta and Peppers

Instant Pot Pork Empanadas

Smoky Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk

Encore: Baked Salmon with Meyer Lemon, Olives and Oregano

Encore: Peanut Butter-Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Tuna Salad Bowls

Try Premium

Easy Weeknights

A Budget-Friendly Meal Plan for Busy Weeks

Sheet Pan Panzanella with Feta and Peppers

Instant Pot Pork Empanadas

Smoky Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk

Encore: Baked Salmon with Meyer Lemon, Olives and Oregano

Encore: Peanut Butter-Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Tuna Salad Bowls

10 Healthy Foods to Eat When You Hit an Afternoon Slump

Related To:

Best Foods For Afternoon Energy

String Cheese

Hummus

Oatmeal

Yogurt

Avocado

Trail Mix

Nut Butter

Tuna Pouches

Jerky

Cottage Cheese

Related Pages

Smoky Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk 

Smoky Corn Chowder with Coconut Milk 