5 Meal Hacks That Will Elevate Your Afternoon

Get out your crockpot and spend a few minutes in the morning loading it up with ingredients so you open the door after a long day at work to a home-cooked meal, like pasta bolognese. It's so worth the little bit of prep time in the morning, totally eliminating the afternoon grocery run before dinner. Set your dinning room table with fresh flowers, light some candles and sit down to a delicious meal instead of noshing in front of the TV.

Nuts make for a great snack, and you can personalize your own mix with flavors you love. Make a big batch while enjoying the mingling scents. Store in little minicontainers so you can nibble while taking a break in the afternoon, or grab as a smart choice that satisfies your sweet cravings. Share your homemade nuts with workmates and everyone will want your recipe.

Or turn your homemade mixed nuts into your own personal cheese plate and pack a mini cutting board, select cheeses, a cheese knife, and fresh fruit to transform your desk into a Parisian getaway.

It might seem tedious, but prepping a week of mason jar salads on Sunday afternoon makes your days so much easier. After figuring out the secret to packing mason jars, the possibilities are endless, taking the stress out of tossing together lunch in the morning. Pack with a pretty scarf to use as a placemat, creating your own relaxing picnic.

I love hard-boiled eggs, especially when they're perfectly cooked, and baking eggs in the oven is the solution. Store in the fridge and they're ready to take with you. Turn snack time into tea time by topping cocktail bread with cream cheese, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and a sprinkling of fresh dill. Serve on a vintage salad plate and sip a cup of tea.

With so many tasty combinations to play with, assemble a week's worth of snack jars that turn your afternoon break into a delicious experience. Place peanut butter, cream cheese, or even grainy mustard at the base of half-pint jars then top with carrot sticks, celery, and pretzel rods. When it's break time, grab from the fridge along with a crisp iced tea and head outdoors to people-watch while savoring the flavors.

When you're in a pinch or those afternoon cravings hit, reach for a delicious Chobani Flip, inspired by flavors crafted at Chobani's SoHo cafe. Chobani Flip is an irresistibly crunchy snack with a unique combination of creamy, protein-rich Greek yogurt and real, delicious mix-ins like chocolate, nuts, seeds, and pretzels. Be sure to take a moment for yourself and indulge with a Chobani Flip. It’s the break you make.