There are many snacks out there to help workers through the infamous "afternoon slump." But those same snacks may actually make the slump worse, Yahoo! Shine reported.
Several nutritionists and dietitians spoke to Yahoo about eight of the worst snacks to eat while trying to stay awake, and some healthier alternatives to get through the afternoon. Fat free pretzels, baked potato chips and surprisingly, apples, made the list.
Fat Free Pretzels are often thought of as nutritious, registered dietitian Elisa Zied, author of "Younger Next Week," says otherwise.
"It's not a snack that will energize you or keep your blood sugar level steady to get through the rest of your afternoon alert and focused," Zied told Yahoo! Shine. "It provides calories, refined carbohydrates; too much sodium and not much else to keep you nourished and satisfied long term."
Zied said an alternative would be high-fiber cereal with nuts such as pecans, pistachios or almonds.
Baked potato chips are slightly healthier than regular ones, but they're not the best snack. They don't provide enough protein and fiber, Yahoo! Shine reported. Plenty of other foods offer enough proteins, Samantha B. Cassetty, nutrition director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, told Yahoo! Shine. She suggests dry roasted edamame instead.
"A 1/4 cup serving has a whopping 14 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber with less salt than traditional chips," she said.
An apple is the undisputed king of healthy snacks, offering vitamins and fiber. But what an apple offers alone is not enough to avoid the afternoon slump, Yahoo! Shine reported.
"Adding a little protein to the mix will help make it even more filing," Cassidy told Yahoo! Shine.
An apple with nuts, mini Babybel cheese (for protein and calcium) or nonfat Greek yogurt provides a better energy lift, Yahoo! Shine reported.
Check out Yahoo! Shine's entire list here.
