We’ve all been there – caught out on an empty snacking-pocket or just plain flat-out on ideas when it comes to those in-between meals aka. snacks to keep us going throughout the day.
Why do we snack? Well, sometimes we snack just for the fun of it or simply because we’re bored. Today, I’m not talking about those snacks, but about those healthy snacks we can have to keep hunger at bay and keep our concentration up throughout the day that will benefit us in the long run.
Why SHOULD we be snacking? There’s a lot of different opinions on this subject – some believe it’s bad for you and some believe it’s a key component to maintaining a healthy weight and overall body.
I personally believe in snacking – when I’m hungry. It’s almost like mindfulness – sit down and analyse whether you’re truly hungry or if you’re just bored, picky, craving sugar or what other reason you can come up with despite hunger.
If I don’t snack when I’m slightly hungry, there’s a 99% chance I’ll later on eat twice the amount of dinner than what I would’ve done had I only had a snack when I was hungry. You follow me?
Still with me? Great, let’s dive into the wondrous world of snack ideas – on the go and at home.
On the Go-Go Snacks:
We will all be there at some point; running around all day; meetings, picking up kids, from work to the gym, breakfast on the run.. We can sometime find ourselves in countless situations where we can’t sit down for a meal, so sometimes we need a snack to keep us going until we can get home to cook a nutritious plate of food.
Even better; if you know you have a busy day ahead, make sure you create your own pre-made snacks from home – food we create ourselves from whole food sources will always be better because they’re fresh!
Here are a few ideas for snacking on the go:
- Popcorn (without salt)
- Handful of raw nut-mix
- Piece of fresh fruit (apple, banana, pear, persimmon, plum, nectarine)
- Muesli-bar (I like: Peg Bars, The Daily Bar, Kez’s Choc Mud Bars)
- Vegetable chips (make sure they’re cooked in a good oil instead of vegetable oil)
- Freshly-squeezed vegetable juice
- Green smoothie (my fave GREEN LASSI here)
How do I choose a healthy snack bar?
Look for the following guidelines in the nutrition information panel:
- Calories — 100-150 calories per bar
- Sugar — 5-10 grams per bar, or less than 10 grams per 100 grams
- Fibre — more than three grams per serve
- Sodium/salt — less than 120mg per 100 grams
- Protein –10 grams per 100 grams
- Saturated fat — less than two grams per 100 grams
Prepped or at home snacks:
- Healthy Bounty Bars
- Rice or Corn Things with Creamy Guacamole
- Vegetable sticks (cucumber, capsicum, carrot, celery) with Hemp Hummus
- Vegan Coconut Tapioca Pudding
- Hemp Superfood Protein Balls
- Chia Seed Pudding With Fresh Fruit & Greek Yoghurt
- Homemade Smoothie
- Small slice of Pumpkin, Potato & Zucchini Frittata
- Cut fresh fruit with nut-butter & cinnamon
- Can of sustainably-caught tuna with Fine Fettle Flats
- Hardboiled egg
- Steamed Broccoli, Snow Peas & Zucchini with lemon juice & S&P
- Edamame beans with a pinch of salt & chilli flakes
I hope you feel better “equipped” to tackle the snack-world now that I’ve listed a few suggestions for you.
All of the above are healthy snacks but with everything; moderation is the key.
Have a snack that you love? I’d love to hear it – let me know in the comments below.
Caroline xx
