The Virtues of Snacking

Snacking, proper snacking that is, is essential to any healthy lifestyle and way of eating. We’ve all heard the studies and read the books and articles that eating smaller, more frequent meals will help to stoke our metabolism, increase our energy and help us lose weight but how? And more importantly – what type of snack, as they are definitely not all created equally…

The reason snacking is so helpful is because it helps to stabilize your blood sugar levels, which in turn decreases your cravings, allows you to eat less but feel more satisfied, keeps energy levels up and doesn’t make you feel like you are dieting…who knew actually eating more could help you weigh less?

Snacks need to ‘be’ a few things:

  • a balance of carbs, fat and protein
  • good source of fiber
  • between 150-250 calories (depends on the person, this is a rough #)
  • it must be real food, nothing light, diet or low-fat…blachhhh!

Try some of these options:

  • Piece of fruit and 4 slices of goat cheese
  • Banana or apple with tbsp of nut butter
  • 1/4 cup or handful of trail mix (minus the peanuts)
  • Genuine Health bar, Larabar or Made Good Granola Bar
  • 1/2 cup coconut yogurt & 1/2 cup organic granola
  • Sliced veggies and 4 tbsp hummus
  • Smoothie of choice
  • Homemade muffins or energy bites

Try some of these, remembering to eat every 3-4 hours and let me know how it goes!

Homemade Granola Energy Bites

  • 2 1⁄2 cups rolled oats
  • 1⁄2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1⁄2 cup raisins
  • 2 tbsp raw sunflower seeds
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1⁄2 cup almond butter (or sunflower butter for a nut-free, school friendly snack)
  • 1/2 cup of mini dark chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand makes them dairy/allergen free)
  • 1⁄3 cup plus 1 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp barley malt syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • (optional 1–2 tbsp spirulina powder)
  1. Grind 1⁄2 cup oats and 1⁄4 cup pumpkin seeds in food processor until powdery. Transfer to a medium bowl, set aside.
  2. Combine remaining 2 cups oats, remaining 1⁄4 cup pumpkin seeds, raisins, sunflower seeds, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in almond butter, honey, barley malt syrup and vanilla until soft dough forms. If you are using spirulina, add in now as you are mixing. Add chocolate chips.
  3. Moisten hands, and roll dough into 1” balls. Coat balls in oat-pumpkin seed powder. Place in freezer 20 minutes to set, then serve or store in the fridge.
  4. Enjoy!
Posted in Nutrition, Recipes