There's something strangely satisfying (and certainly voyeuristic) about seeing the contents of another person's handbag.
So much so that there are literally millions of 'what's in my bag' videos and flat lays on Instagram showing a plethora of pretty stationery, food, makeup, gym gear, film cameras, accessories and beauty products.
It's as though taking a peek into a person's bag gives us inspiration to make our own bags (and lives) more neat, organised and even healthy.
With this in mind, The Huffington Post Australia asked four health experts what they always carry in their handbags -- from snacks and drinks, to gym gear and stationery.
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Fiona Tuck, nutritionist.
"I always carry a bottle of water with me to stay hydrated. If you carry water with you, you are more likely to drink it. If it's not there and we are busy, it can be easy to go half a day before you have a glass of water.
"I carry a notepad to write down ideas or things that I need to do so that I won't forget them. I find writing things down is a good way to alleviate stress.
"I also always have a tin of tuna for emergency lunches when I'm out. I can then order a salad and add tuna if needed. I always have an emergency bliss ball snack in my bag too, so if I can't find anywhere to eat lunch for any reason, I have a snack which avoids getting too hungry or overeating later in the day.
Phone is a must as I need it for work, and I always carry spare yoga wear in my car in case I get an emergency call to cover a class and don't have time to go home and pick up my yoga wear."
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Robbie Clark, dietitian.
"Water -- We all know that hydration is so important for general health, but it is also essential for staying alert and productive. I always have my water bottle filled with water and maybe some lime or lemon wedges, which I can transport to meetings and commutes to and from work and other places.
"Notepad and pens -- I tend to be most creative when I'm outside of the office and being a business owner, I am constantly thinking of new ideas of how to better myself and my business. Writing down thoughts and ideas as they pop into my head is a great way to firstly remember, but also to remain structured and efficient.
"Snacks -- As a dietitian, I always encourage my clients to have some form of transportable healthy snack on them, as you never know when hunger will strike and they can be very beneficial on those days with back-to-back meetings or when you're on the run.
"Sunglasses and sunscreen -- Always be sun prepared and sun safe. Even on cloudy days, UV protection is vital for reducing free radical and DNA damage.
"Business cards -- This may sound presumptuous, but you never know who you might run into or strike up a conversation with. Having business cards on hand in any situation is excellent when networking or meeting potential clients."
Ben Lucas, owner of Flow Athletic.
"In my bag I always have a BPA free reusable bottle of water so I have no excuse to not drink water. I always have doggy bags for when out with my dog Wilbur, a spare singlet or shirt, and a couple of protein bars.
"Preparation is key when it comes to achieving your health goals, so being prepared with good food, snacks and water should help prevent you from making bad decisions (when it comes to food) when you are hungry. You want to be in charge of what is going into your body, and sometimes the day just gets away from you.
Healthy transportable snacks:
- Low sugar muesli bars
- Boiled eggs
- Cut up veggie sticks in a zip lock bag (e.g. carrot, capsicum, cucumber, celery)
- Unsalted, raw mixed nuts and seeds
- Homemade protein balls
- Fresh fruit
- Home roasted chickpeas
- Tinned tuna and unflavoured brown rice cakes
- Homemade mini egg muffins
- Air popped pop corn
- Chia pods
"For me, I like to have a couple of BSC protein bars as they are a little more filling than the average snack and they are packed full of protein.
"For a lighter snack, a pack of raw almonds and an apple. I don't like to carry anything that will squash or get messy in my bag by the end of the day."
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Zoe-Bingley-Pullin, nutritionist and celebrity chef.
"I always carry a stainless steel or glass water bottle to maintain hydration, fresh seasonal fruit and raw nuts and seeds for a healthy snack on-the-go, and a small carton of coconut water for quick hydration.
"Having healthy snacks on hand prevents getting caught out if hungry which can lead to having to rely on less than ideal options or, if a snack is missed, overeating at the next meal.
"Having access to water is important for maintaining hydration, which assists with concentration, energy and keeping appetite stable.
"I would recommend people carry these in their bag:
- Fresh fruit -- you can store fruit in a little cotton bag to cut down on use of plastic and prevent fruit from bruising
- A small carton of coconut water
- Favourite herbal tea bags, if going somewhere with access to hot water
- Raw nuts and seeds in a small container
- Ear phones for listening to mindfulness apps if on public transport or at lunch in the park
- If you regularly grab food out and get cut short on cutlery, you can purchase a set of reusable bamboo cutlery to keep in your bag
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If there's one key message to take away from these health experts, it's to always carry a healthy snack and water in your bag.
"Keeping on-the-go snacks in your bag is the best way to stay fuelled and fight off hunger when it strikes unexpectedly," Clark told HuffPost Australia.
"They are also beneficial for boosting your nutrition throughout the day. For example, if you don't consume many vegetables in your main meals, having them as a snack is a perfect way to boost the variety and volume of vegetables consumed.
"Having a drink bottle on your desk and in your bag will encourage you to drink more water and stay well hydrated throughout the day."
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