There seems to be a divide when it comes to the topic of snacking. Some are all for it (like myself, pro-sacker right here) and some seem to believe that snacking is unhealthy, associating it to a bag of chips or chocolate bars. Luckily for everyone, there are hundreds of healthy variations of what constitutes as a snack, and that jives very well for a snack fiend such as myself, trying to stay on top of her health game.
Personally, I’ve found that having a little snack in between meals have actually helped me cut hunger pangs and prevents me from over-eating (an occurrence when I feel starved). Healthy snacks also keep me energized and hydrated, and even healthfully scratched the itch of an occasional sweet craving.
Below are seven of my most common daily or weekly snacks. They are easy, no-fuss and easy to prep and pack to work, or anywhere else you feel like your squirrel-like cravings might kick in.
Fruit
This is an obvious one. Of course, some fruits will be more abundantly available and taste better depending on the season. Nothing radiates Summer more than fresh strawberries, blueberries or watermelon, and nothing says Autumn harvest more than apples or cranberries. Generally though, bananas and apples are my daily go-to’s mainly because they are just so simple to pack and enjoy on the-go.
Homemade Popcorn
This is a perfect substitute for potato chips. It’s crunchy, savoury and nostalgic to being at the movies, so yes, this is an ideal Netflix snack. The best option would be to make homemade popcorn versus buying the microwavable kind. We use this popcorn maker at home and I use half a teaspoon of kosher salt and a tablespoon of olive oil instead of butter. If you don’t have a popcorn maker, the Skinny POP Original Popcorn is a good choice.
Dates
Whenever I crave chocolate, dates have come to my rescue. They are the perfect substitute for “I want something sweet and indulgent”, and oftentimes just one is enough to satisfy that craving. Medjool dates in particular are my favourite because they have a smooth caramel-like consistency. Bonus: they are high in fibre and vitamins, and low in calories for something that tastes that indulgent. I love pairing dates with roasted almonds or a small slice of cheese to balance out the sweetness. And don’t even get me started on baking date squares.
Hummus and Carrots
Hummus is awesome, and I’m not just saying that because I’m Lebanese. It’s such a tasty and healthy dip (when made right) and can literally go with everything. My most common hummus companion are carrot sticks but it can equally go well with cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber or anything else. Even though my Mom taught me how to make it from scratch (possible future blog post), I am a big fan of Sunflower Kitchen’s “Classic” hummus. They use natural ingredients, are made locally in Toronto and it actually tastes homemade. (Still love yours better, Mom!)
Boiled Egg
Hard boiling eggs is part of my weekly meal-prepping. Eggs are high in protein and make an easy pre-workout snack. I personally love a creamy yolk, so I’m actually on team medium-boiled.
Apple Slices with Almond Butter
The combination of a crunchy, sweet, sour and nutty snack is a fun one. This is pretty much a daily snack for me, and I sometimes substitute apples with celery sticks. As mentioned in my meal diary post, I like the natural almond butter from Bulk Barn that you can grind yourself.
Finn Crisp and Hummus
Remember when I mentioned in my weight loss post that I used to eat bread and cheese/butter as a pre-dinner snack? Well, Finn Crisp and hummus have surprisingly satisfied my bread and butter craving. Finn Crisps are my standard “healthy crackers” because these thin, crispy sourdough rye crackers are high in fibre, low in calories, are made with natural ingredients and are virtually sugar-free. And yes, these crackers are a product of Finland and yes, my Finnish boyfriend and his family got me into these. Oh and that bright orange sprinkle you see on there is smoked paprika. Tastes so good on hummus and baba ghanouj. You could say it almost tastes like BBQ chips…
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