Donuts are a go-to treat for many offices—they’re a sweet crowd-pleaser that won’t set you back too much on cost. However, it’s no secret that donuts are laden with fat and unhealthy oils, so having them in the break room might not be the best for you or your employees. Before choosing an alternative, consider: What snacks do your coworkers enjoy? Are there any dietary restrictions? Is there a budget to be mindful of?
If you enjoy baking or have time for it, many of the snacks on this list are easy to put together. However, store-bought versions work just as well, and everyone will appreciate a sweet alternative to heavy doughnuts.
1. Banana Bread
Banana bread requires a few basic ingredients and a pan. It is also readily available at most bakeries and supermarkets. While good allergen-free versions can be harder to find, banana bread is a good treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth without adding too much bad stuff. It’s also easy to customize if you’re baking—try adding chocolate chips or nuts for more flavor.
2. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
These classic cookies are often cast aside for sweeter alternatives like chocolate chip cookies. However, anyone looking for healthy snack options should give them another chance. Oats are packed with protein and fiber, and raisins add sweetness without too many calories. Oatmeal raisin cookies are also widely available wherever you shop or make them at home.
3. Zucchini Bread
Zucchini bread is a champion of healthy snacking. There are vegetables in it, and you can’t even tell! Like banana bread, zucchini bread is endlessly customizable. Since the zucchini doesn’t add much taste, you can customize this bread to your heart’s content—try adding cocoa powder or rolled oats for a different texture and flavor. You can also try zucchini cake with healthy frosting for special occasions like office birthdays.
4. Energy Balls
These require a bit of preparation but no baking. All you need is a basic ingredient like oats, a sweet kick from chocolate chips, coconut, dried fruit, and honey and peanut butter to bind it together. In just a few minutes, you’ve got a sweet treat that tastes good, is low in calories, and offers natural energy that will keep you working through the afternoon.
Again, these are customizable, so you can mix and match ingredients to your heart’s content. You can also buy them pre-made, but you may need to go to a health food store. Also, be sure to check the ingredients before you buy them in case there are any hidden allergens.
5. Fresh Fruit
Sometimes, a nice slice of fruit is the best alternative to a heavy, pre-packaged pastry. Try picking up a fruit platter with pre-cut pieces so there’s no preparation involved. The only downside is that they need to be refrigerated, so ensure you have enough fridge space beforehand and put the fruit away promptly so it stays fresh. Also, try rotating out the fruit seasonally—berries in the summer and fresh apples in the fall, for example.
6. Chocolate-Covered Nuts
This is another sweet option that hides nutrition. Nuts are high in protein, so they’re a good snack. If you don’t like chocolate, you can find many seasoned nuts that offer different sweet and savory flavors. However, chocolate-covered nuts are a perennial favorite because they are so delicious you could eat a whole bag of them while offering more nutritional value than candy.
Try providing a few different chocolate options, like milk, dark, and white over cashews, almonds, or peanuts. Nuts are also a common allergy, so check in with everyone before bringing them in.
7. Beef Jerky (or Vegan Alternative)
For a more savory option, try beef jerky. There are many different flavor options, environmentally conscious grass-fed options, and even vegan alternatives that taste like the real thing. The only downside to this one is that most jerky won’t fit all diets due to its high sodium content.
8. Banana Oat Muffins
Here’s another bakeable option: These muffins are delicious, healthy, and allow you to use up any old bananas you have lying around. They’re a great breakfast option, so they’re perfect to offer instead of donuts. Again, you can make them gluten-free or add various mix-ins to suit everyone’s tastes.
9. Low-Calorie Ice Cream Bars
In the summer, it can be nice to have a cold treat to cool off at the office, and what better way than with a low-calorie, individually wrapped treat? Low-calorie ice cream bars have become increasingly popular as a way to stay cool without packing on too many calories.
Frozen yogurt bars are also a great alternative to traditional ice cream. Brands like Halo Top and Skinny Cow are especially well-known, but many local grocery stores have at least a few options. Try getting chocolatey and fruity options to appeal to different tastes.
10. Granola
Granola is a popular individual snack, but it can also be easily made or bought in large enough batches to feed an entire office. It requires minimal preparation—just throw some ingredients on a baking sheet and put it in the oven—and makes a great breakfast in the morning, especially if you add milk or yogurt.
11. Popcorn
Looking for an easy, fun snack with barely any calories? There’s a reason why people of all ages gravitate toward popcorn. While the butter and salt loaded onto movie theater popcorn cancels out any health benefits, popcorn on its own is a great snack. Whether you pop it with a machine or in bags or try a store-bought version with yummy seasoning, it’s cheap and easy to store.
12. Dried Fruit
Unlike fresh fruit, dried fruit has the advantage of not needing refrigeration. It’s a wholesome snack you can return to all day for a little energy boost. Few people have the time or equipment to dry fruit at home, so head to your local grocery store’s health food aisle and look for dried mangos or apple rings. It’ll be more expensive than your average bag of chips or a box of doughnuts, but it’s worth it.
13. Chocolate Bark
Chocolate bark is a fun treat you can make at home or find in the snack section of the grocery store. To make it yourself, pour melted chocolate onto a lined baking sheet and then spread nuts, coconut, dried fruit, and any other healthy toppings you want. When the chocolate solidifies, you have chocolate bark. You can make it as fancy or basic as you want, and it’ll still be a crowd-pleaser. You can also try yogurt bark as a sweeter, deceptively healthy alternative.
14. Healthy Chips
There’s a whole world of chips that offer little nutritional value—cheesy chips, potato chips, and salty chips. Luckily, a new market has emerged. Healthy chips are often vegetable-based and lower in sodium and unhealthy fats. If you’re unsure which ones to get, head to your local grocery store and spend a few minutes perusing. You’re likely to find healthy alternatives to your favorite chips.
15. Popsicles
Another sweet way to stay cool in the summer is to make or buy fresh fruit popsicles. They’re an even healthier alternative to ice cream bars and good for all ages. Look for ones with no added sugar—the sweetness of the fruit is enough to make you feel like you had a treat without weighing you down all day.