A long while ago I posted a blog called Favourite Healthy Snacks. I promised a part two so here we are.
A list of our favourite healthy snacks continued:
6. Energy Bites: Similar to homemade granola bars but easier to make. These filling little balls satisfy hunger cravings and give you energy to keep going. Coconut, peanut butter and chocolate make them something to look forward to!
Combine in a bowl:
1 cup oats
1/2 cup peanut butter
½ cup coconut and/or ground flax seeds
½ cup dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp chia seeds (optional)
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Refrigerate for 30 mins then roll into bite sized balls.
For a re-vamped version of this recipe click here!
7. Chia Seed Pudding. When you want dessert but you also want the Omega 3s, protein and fibre of chia seeds this is a satisfying choice.
Combine 1 TBSP chia seeds with 1/3 cup water in a small bowl.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. Then for a chocolate peanut butter version mix in:
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp- ½ tbsp maple syrup
Or for the fruit version just add a bit of maple syrup and some chopped up fruit (berries or pineapple, peaches or mangos work best.) You can also use milk instead of water in this version for a creamier texture.
8. Almonds (and fruit or chocolate chips)
Almonds are so filling and delicious. They contain healthy fats, protein and fibre among other things. I like to pair them with an apple for an afternoon snack or with dark chocolate chips for an after supper treat.
9. Oranges/ Clementines
There is something wonderful about the natural sweetness and intense flavour of oranges. I love the citrus tang and juicy explosion in my mouth.
Snacks are an essential part of our days. They give you something to look forward to between meals and a boost of energy to tide you over. I find that when I don’t have a snack between meals, I am so hungry by the next meal that I stuff my face and end up overeating which makes me feel gross. I think it’s the body’s reaction to thinking you are starving. If you don’t feed it when it’s hungry it makes you want to eat more than you need at the next meal to stock up on calories should you face a “starvation” situation again. When you honour your hunger and eat regular meals and snacks your body understands that food is readily available, and you won’t starve. Therefore, you will be able to eat just the right amount of food at your next meal to feel satisfied instead of stuffed.
These are amazing with a glass of milk. There is no refined flour, sugar or oil and instead all the good flavour and texture comes from natural ingredients like bananas, oats, maple syrup, honey and of course peanut butter!
Healthy snacks come in all varieties. As you can see, we lean towards sweet snacks, but maybe savory things are more your style. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear about it. Email me at tricia@homestylefitness.ca.