One of my biggest struggles is remembering to snack. And yes, I totally get the irony here. Snacking is what got me "into this mess" in the first place. See previous Doritos and beer comment. Somehow that kind of snacking was a no-brainer; quite literally. I ate without any thought whatsoever. Now, I'm working hard to snack deliberately---you know, keep the ole metabolism revved up all day long and all that jazz---and I'll look into my cooler bag at the end of the day to find carrots and hummus uneaten. Whoops. Healthy eating fail.
I decided that some of my issue (Some. I said some!) is that I've been in a snack rut. Does this happen to you, too? Same ole same ole becomes boring and stale. Well, I happened across a great little list of snacks this morning on a cool site called greatest.com. None of which are so out of the ordinary that I wouldn't/couldn't have them readily available...it's just a matter of planning, prepping and EATING. How hard is that!?
Here were some of the treats featured. Don't they sound good?
1. Cottage-Style Fruit: Top ½ cup cottage cheese with ½ cup of your favorite fruit. Why not try some superfoods like bananas, mixed berries and melon?
2. Beef or Turkey Jerky: This is one I would have never put on my list. Really. Never. As in never ever ever. But....this is a chewy snack that's super-portable and keeps fresh for months when
packed properly. A one-ounce serving (the size of most single-serve
packs) contains about 9 grams of protein! You've just gotta watch out for the sodium- and sugar-filled brands. Go for low-sodium, natural, or lightly-flavored options.
3. Mixed Nuts or Trail Mix: Mixed nuts are an easy way to get
a delicious dose of protein in a convenient, shelf-stable package. Try a
mixed bunch for variety and a combo with dried fruit for some added
sweetness. The best bang for your protein buck? Almonds and pistachios are high up there in protein while comparably lower in saturated fat than their nutty peers. Again, keep an eye on sodium and serving size here. This is easily addictive and, even if it's good for you, too much is too much.
4. Hard-Boiled Egg: Budget-friendly and crammed with nutrients, eggs are
one of the best ways to get a healthy dose of protein. Try hard boiling
and pre-peeling a dozen on Sundays when you do your meal prep (it's not just for meals anymore!) and throw one in a
small container each day for an easy on-the-go snack.
Need a little more than the egg alone? Slice one and serve it atop a piece of
whole-wheat bread/toast.
5. Nut Butter Boat: Conjuring up memories of Girl Scout days with this one. Choose a nut butter (almond, peanut, or cashew, perhaps?) and load a few celery sticks with 1
tablespoon of it. Top with a few whole almonds or raisins--even craisins if you wanna get "craizy" with your snack. Don't love celery? Use a hollowed-out an apple instead!
6. Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie: I saw "cookie" in the title, and that was all it took. How delicious does this sound? In a microwave-safe bowl (or mug), mix ¼ cup oats, 1
teaspoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon flour (of your choice), 1 egg white, ¼
teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon
cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon raisins. Flatten mixture into bottom of bowl
and microwave on high for 45 seconds. Cool, pop it out of the bowl, and
enjoy! What!!??
7. Edamame Poppers: Did you know that ONE CUP of
the pods offers about 17 grams of protein? That'll keep you going. Buy fresh and steam them for
about 6 minutes, or use the pre-cooked frozen variety and briefly
microwave to defrost (about 2 minutes) before popping your way to a happy snack.
8. Hummus Dippers: Need another way to use your favorite travel coffee mug: Put 2
tablespoons of a favorite hummus in the bottom of the container. Stick a
handful of vegetable sticks (carrots, celery, and snow peas are a great
mix!) vertically in the hummus, screw on the top, and throw in a purse
or gym bag for an easy, on-the-go, super-healthy snack.
9. Banana Nutter: What goes better together? Grab a
rice cake (brown rice for extra fiber points!), top it with 2 tablespoons of
your favorite nut butter and half a sliced banana, sliced. Sprinkle a dash of cinnamon to liven--and health!--it up even more.
10. “Get Greek” Berry Parfait: Ditch the fruit on the bottom varieties; all that sugar totally derails your best efforts. Instead, top ½ cup
plain Greek yogurt with ½ cup fresh berries and 1 tablespoon sliced
roasted almonds. Crunch, protein...mmm!
11. Grape-and-Cheese Sticks: Dice a half-inch thick slice of cheddar
cheese into squares (you should end up with about 6 small pieces,
equaling about 1 ounce) and rinse 6 grapes--red or green, your call. On 6 toothpicks, stack the
grape and cheese. Boom...healthy, easy and so poppable. Just 1 ounce of reduced-fat cheddar offers 8 grams of protein, and pairs really well with the contrast with sweet grapes.
12. Almond Butter Toast Sticks: Return of the travel mug reinvented. Toast (or bake) 2
slices of whole-grain bread, and cut into ½-inch strips. Place 2
tablespoons of almond butter (or another nut butter) in the bottom of a
container with a top, stick the toast sticks in vertically, and sprinkle
with cinnamon. Screw on the top and head out the door!
13. Perfect Little Parfait: Top ½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with
a handful of fruit (fresh or frozen) and a drizzle of honey. Add 2
tablespoons of toasted oats for a protein-packed crunch!
14. Mini Black-Bean Mash Taco: So loving this idea. Yum. Heat ½ cup of black
beans in the microwave with 1 tablespoon of salsa. Mash with a fork and
fold it inside a small (4 to 6-inch) soft tortilla. Store in a small
container for easy transport.
Okay, that's 14 yummy, healthy and easy snacks. That's one a day for 2 weeks before you start repeating. Although, my guess is you'll start repeating a little sooner once you find a favorite. But I suppose that's how we get into the dreaded "food rut" isn't it? Well, no matter...when you get "bored" just try another one on the list.
Happy--HEALTHY!--snacking.
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