5 Quick & Healthy Snacks to Keep You Going Throughout the Day
Between work, laundry, and running around with the kids, when do you find time to better yourself? Sometimes you are so busy you forget to eat (this happens to me constantly), and this is not something to be proud of. Losing weight can seem hard, but you definitely won’t drop pounds by starving yourself. Quick light snacks throughout the day will keep you full, give you energy, and help get you past a stressful day. Check out these easy-to-make snacks that are delicious and healthy for on the go go-getters like yourself!
- Peanut Butter and Apples with Granola
You’ve had peanut butter with apples before I’m sure, but when is the last time you’ve had them? They are super easy to make and very healthy for you. Natural peanut butter is a good source of healthy fat and energy. Fat? I’m trying to lose weight, not gain it. Don’t worry. A type of good fat, found in peanut butter, is called monounsaturated fats, which actually help to burn fat and build muscle- hence the peanut butter protein shakes they love to advertise. Apples are very low in calories, and a very healthy treat on the go (it will keep the doctor away as well). Throwing in some granola on top adds a little crunch to the treat and even helps pile on more energy.
- Sweet & Crunchy Sweet Potato Crisps
Craving something a little savory and a little sweet? Sweet potatoes are chock-full of vitamins like vitamins B6, C & D. They also support a healthy immune system on top of helping calm down a stressful day from its source of magnesium. The only bad thing about them is that they can get messy. Luckily, you can take these chips wherever you go while leaving the butter at home! All you need is to cut the potatoes into bite-sized chips, sprinkle on olive oil and sea salt and pop them in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Out comes a crispy and tasty snack for any meeting you have to run to.
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
These grab and go bars can save your morning, afternoon, and even your after-dinner cravings for dessert. You need a couple ingredients, such as oats, milk, 1 egg, and some vanilla, but you can mix any of your favorite toppings inside. Honey always makes the bar come together nicely, but if you want something crunchy, granola or nuts add a little bit of extra flavor. Fresh fruit such as blueberries or strawberries work great in the mix as well. Think of it as a healthy version of a muffin, but of course bar-shaped. The best part is, you can only mix in healthy ingredients, so when you reach in the fridge for a snack to bring with you throughout the day, these bars will give you something to smile about. As an added bonus, oatmeal is hardy which means it will help fill you up and decrease your chances of reaching inside the vending machine for a quick fix.
- Trail Mix
What can be better than making your own trail mix? It’s super easy and I am surprised not more people do it considering most people pick out what they don’t like in store-bought trail mix. The perfect combination are a couple types of nuts- almond and walnuts are some of the best nuts that feed your brain and help you fight off disease. Then we have the option of dried fruit, usually you find cranberries in trail mix but dried mango or cherries take the cake! Adding some grains help give you extra fiber and contribute to keeping your stomach satisfied. My favorite whole grain snack to add are cheerios. Finally, the sweets! Yes, you can have sweets and still be healthy. Mini dark chocolate chips satisfy your sweet tooth and since it's full of antioxidants, it can help you fight off disease. (We’re fighting off disease twice in one snack!) Everything you want, and nothing you don’t, trail mix is pretty spectacular.
- Baked Banana Chips
Yep, more chips, fruit style! If you’ve never had banana chips, this may seem a little odd to you. However, banana chips are amazing and so much sweeter than normal bananas (a lot crunchier too). Bananas are high in potassium, which helps get rid of cramps, but they are also a great source of fiber and help you detox as well. Banana chips provide a small snack that you can munch on for an hour without getting tired of them (especially when you just want to eat out of boredom). First, you want to get some ripe bananas, preferably straight from the store. Then you want to cut them in very thin slices, remember the thinner the crunchier, and we like them crunchy! All you need to do after cutting them is splash on some lemon juice and bake them until they are dehydrated, it helps to flip them a couple times (this might take a while, sometimes two hours). I can’t promise they won’t be eaten before their shelf-life is up, but they sure are a simple and delicious snack for any hour of the day.
You are always on the go, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to the temptation of the drive thru. Prepare these snacks on the weekend and grab them each day for a new, fresh and flavorful, not to mention healthy, snack wherever life may take you. Enjoy!
