Snack On!


A few days ago, a friend of mine posted a plea on Facebook urging all mothers to provide snack ideas for kids. She herself is a mother of a child soon to be entering preschool. I can definetly appreciate how difficult it is to think of healthy, nutritious snacks for your loved ones. My husband and I always need snacks to help us get through our busy days. I do my best to avoid processed junk that are filled with artificial flavours, preservatives, sugar and ingredients that I cannot even pronounce. What the hell is butylated hydroxytoluene anyway??!

Some people consider snacking as evil and the cause of weight gain. Well if you are going to snack on chips and cookies than yes, it is the root of all evils. Snacking is actually a great way to control and lose weight because it prevents you from becoming ravenously hungry and overeating at mealtime. It keeps your blood sugar stable, which ultimately wards off cravings. Since children have smaller appetites and are always running after something bright and shinny, nutritious snacking is essential for their growth, development and energy level.

I try to follow these simple rules of snacking:

  1. Try to include foods that are high in protein. Protein is essential for growth and development but it also curbs hunger.
  2. Include fibre-rich foods. Fibre also curbs hunger and cravings while keeping blood sugar stable. Lets not forget, fibre keeps you regular!
  3. Eat your veggies! Keep them colorful as much as you can but always include greens (and no I do not mean iceberg lettuce).

Here are a few snack ideas for yourselves and your loved ones:

  1. Whole grain cereal with milk
  2. Carrots and sweet red peppers with humus (homemade is ideal)
  3. Berries and yogurt (greek yogurt has loads of protein)
  4. Raisins and almonds
  5. Apple slices and/or celery with peanut butter
  6. Whole grain crackers (without toxic ingredients) with almond butter
  7. Hard boiled eggs with avocado
  8. Green smoothies with fruits and almond milk. Add yogurt for protein
  9. Fruit with cheese slices (please no processed cheese!)
  10. Whole grain toast with 1 tbsp of peanut butter and banana slices
  11. Whole grain toast with slices of boiled egg and avocado slices
  12. Low salt popcorn (preferably homemade) with almonds or walnuts
  13. Homemade baked sweet potato chips

Some recipes to try

Try these delicious and healthy Almond bars! I used less maple syrup than what the recipe asked for and instead added some dark chocolate drizzle for fun ☺

You can get the recipe from http://thevegan8.com/2014/02/18/almond-pulp-makes-the-best-chocolate-chip-bars/

I absolutely enjoy these homemade granola bars! They are nutritious and very filing. They are also great for breakfast-on-the-go! You can mix up the recipe by adding your favorite nuts, seeds or fruit.

I use this recipe as my base and mix it up depending on my mood. I opt out of turbinado sugar but keep the honey. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/almond_power_bar.html

I was pleasantly surprised just how delicious these chickpea blondie bars turned out! So soft and chewy…They were also very easy to make. Bonus!

I did not add sea salt, as suggested by the recipe,and I used less maple syrup. http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2013/04/flourless-chocolate-chip-chickpea-blondies-with-sea-salt-vegan-gluten-free-healthy/