Life is busy. So snack smart! Smart snacks taste great and have some nutritional value to keep you energized throughout the day. How to snack smart:
- Stock up on quick and easy smart snacks like fruit, veggie sticks, yogurt or cheese that you like best. This way you will reach for something healthy when you need a boost.
- Snack when you have lots of time between meals. If you eat lunch at noon and supper’s at 6:00 pm, a snack around 4:00 pm will give you energy to do homework, go to soccer practice or that last meeting of the day.
- Eat until you are just full. When you’re fueling up between meals, you don’t need to eat until you are stuffed, especially if a meal is right around the corner! If you’re doing something active it’s OK to fuel up with a bigger snack.
- Pack a great snack. Something you will look forward to eating. Then when you are on the run, you won’t be tempted by less healthy snacks. Sturdy, unsquishable snacks for on the go: apples, raisins or nuts.
Try these 6 tasty and healthy smart snack recipes:
1. Power Muffins
With 8 grams of fibre, these power muffins are great as a grab-n-go breakfast. Alternatively, try them as a morning or mid-afternoon snack to keep you going!
2. Quick Granola Bars
These nut-free, full of fibre bars are easy to take on the go for pre-game snacks and lunches. Customize these bars by swapping out the dried cranberries and apricots for your family favourites.
3. Fruit, Yogurt and Barley Smoothie
As a breakfast beverage or snacktime sipper, this Fruit, Yogurt and Barley Smoothie packs a wallop of flavour and health benefits. The many possible combinations you can dream up using different fruits, juices, yogurts and optional ingredients means you can make a unique smoothie every day!
Recipe and image courtesy of GoBarley
4. Multigrain Carrot, Date & Mustard Muffins
Hearty and nutritious, these muffins make a quick grab-and-go breakfast or afternoon snack. Studded with nuts and yellow mustard seed for crunch, the muffins also have a delicious sweetness from the carrots and dates, and the benefit of being packed with whole grains. These muffins are lovely on their own, or with a good cup of coffee, but lightly spread with butter or cream cheese they are magnificent. The recipe makes a large batch, but the muffins freeze well and can be enjoyed when you’re on the go.
5. Sriracha Honey Roasted Chickpeas
These sweet and spicy Sriracha honey roasted chickpeas make the perfect healthy snack. Enjoy slightly warm or once they’ve completely cooled.
6. Frozen Yogurt Bark with Flax
Frozen yogurt bark with flax makes a great after school snack or as a sweet and healthy treat on the weekend. Don’t like raspberries? Swap them out! This recipe can be made with any combination of fruit, nuts and seeds that you prefer.
