There’s always that gap between lunch and dinner. You’ve made yourself a cup of tea, opened the kitchen cupboard and decided you want something to eat. Something savoury, perhaps. Or a few dry fruits while you finish the day’s work.

A few options in the cupboard can give you more choice. Here are some ways to bring variety to your snack breaks, along with what to look for when you’re shopping.

Give Your Office Snack Box Some Variety

Packing a snack can be as simple as putting a few ingredients into a container before leaving home. Almonds, cashews, raisins and walnuts give you plenty of combinations to work with, without any cooking involved.

Try almonds and raisins one day, then cashews and walnuts the next. If you prefer eating them separately, use a box with small compartments. There’s no need to turn everything into a trail mix.

The Tata Sampann dry fruits range is a place to start when putting together your selection. Choose a couple of favourites first, then add something different when you’re ready for a change.

It’s also worth thinking about how you’ll carry them. A container that fits into your work bag is more useful than an elaborate snack box you’ll leave behind on a busy morning. Keep the original packs at home so you can refer to the storage instructions and best-before dates.

Make Room for Makhana at Tea Time

Tea breaks deserve a little variety too. If you’re in the mood for something savoury, try serving makhana in a bowl alongside your usual cup.

Tata Simply Better Peri Peri Makhana is one option to explore. You could keep it for your afternoon break or bring it out when a friend comes over for chai.

You don’t need to add anything to it or turn it into a recipe. Sometimes the most practical snack idea is simply something you can open, serve and enjoy.

Put Together a Snack Mix You Actually Like

The advantage of making your own dry fruit mix is that you can leave out the ingredient you always end up picking around.

Start with a couple of favourites. Almonds, cashews and raisins make one combination; walnuts and chopped dates make another. Try a small bowl before preparing more, and adjust it to your taste.

If you’re serving the mix to guests, keep the packaging handy for anyone who wants to check ingredients or allergens. For the ingredients left over, follow the storage directions on their individual packs.

This is also an easy way to use what’s already in your cupboard before adding more to your grocery order.

Keep an Option for Days When You Haven’t Packed Anything

There will be mornings when preparing a snack is the last thing on your mind. For those days, it helps to have something you can pick up on your way out.

Explore Tata Simply Better’s snacking range, which includes flavoured makhana, cashews and dates.. Think about where you’ll be eating when choosing a pack. Will you be at your desk, out for the afternoon or travelling? Will you need a container for anything left over?

Tata Simply Better Date & Nut Bites – Classic can also be an option to add to your snack rotation when you feel like a change from your usual selection.

Check the serving and storage information before packing, particularly if you’ll be carrying the snack around for a while.

What to Check When Shopping for Snacks

Searching for healthy snacking options can bring up plenty of choices. Once something catches your eye, take a moment to read beyond the product name.

Start with the ingredients. Check the specific flavour you’re buying, even if you’ve tried another variant from the same range.

Look at how the nutrition information is presented. Values may be given per 100 g, per serving or per pack. If you’re comparing products, make sure you’re comparing the same quantity.

Check the serving information. A packet isn’t necessarily a single serving. Read what’s printed on the label rather than judging by the size of the pack.

Read the allergen and storage details. These are especially useful when buying for someone else or choosing something to keep at work.

Looking at the label as a whole gives you more information to work with than focusing on one ingredient or statement on the front.

Shop Around Your Week

Before placing your next grocery order, think about when you usually want a snack.

If you snack mostly at work, start with something easy to pack. If your tea break is the occasion you look forward to, choose a savoury option you’d enjoy with it. If you often have people over, keep a few different snacks that you can serve separately.

You might begin with almonds and raisins for your work bag, makhana for tea time and Date & Nut Bites for variety. Change the selection according to what you finish and what you feel like eating again.

The aim is to have a few choices that fit into your day. There’s no need to fill an entire shelf at once.

A Few Common Snacking Questions

What are some easy snacks to carry to work?

A dry fruit box, a mix you’ve put together at home or a pack of makhana are options to consider. Check the storage instructions and any workplace rules around food allergens before deciding what to bring.

How can I make my snack choices less repetitive?

Try changing one part of your usual selection. Pair almonds with raisins instead of eating them alone, switch your makhana flavour or add a different snack to your next order. Small changes can give you variety without leaving you with several unfinished packs.

What should I check before buying a packaged snack?

Read the ingredients, nutrition information, serving details and allergen declaration. Check the storage instructions too, particularly if you plan to keep the snack in your bag or at your desk.

Whether you’re planning for the office or restocking your tea-time favourites, explore Tata Simply Better snacks and Tata Sampann dry fruits on Tata Nutrikorner and put together a selection you’ll look forward to opening.