When you have a job, or an active lifestyle, or when you take part in active hobbies, you are highly likely to experience that energy slump that hits during the mid-afternoon. You feel empty and lethargic, you need to eat something, but you don’t want to ruin your diet by filling up on high-sugar or high-fat packaged snacks. When you don’t want to drink a cup of coffee but you need to wake up, fast, try one of these healthy snack options.
1. Nuts, Seeds and Dried Fruit
A great high protein snack for warding off hunger pangs and fatigue is a trail mix with dried nuts, some dark chocolate, and even some toasted coconut flakes. You get the sweet fix but without the calories or the sugar. If you only eat one kind of nut as a snack, make it an almond (or three…) Almonds are packed with protein and fiber, and they also contain magnesium which is an essential element for healthy bodies and minds. If you want a savory grain to snack on, try quinoa, which is an ideal grain for creating muffins, or quinoa bites. Popcorn with coconut oil is a healthy, tasty snack for all times of the day – not just at the movies. And you can create a convenient, healthy snack by roasting chickpeas with a little olive oil and salt.
2. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Good news – healthy snacks don’t need to be complicated. The simplest snack for keeping hunger at bay and saving on calories is a piece of fresh fruit. For added protein and a significant energy boost, add nut butter to fruit slices. Make celery sticks more appealing by spreading a stick with peanut butter or nut butter and sprinkling a few raisins on top (this is a childhood snack that is great for adults too.) Eat veggie sticks with individual pots of hummus. And use the hummus to make a tasty and healthy wrap sandwich for snacking when you feel the need for something more substantial. If you don’t like lumps of fruit or whole vegetables, make a change by blending fruit and yogurt for a healthy smoothie. Don’t have a good blender? We recommend checking the Vitamix 5200 blender, which can replace a lot of your kitchen equipment and save you a ton of money.
3. Healthy Protein Snacks
Combining carbohydrates with protein is a great way to give you the energy you need for a healthy body. Great high protein snacks include biltong or beef jerky – dried meat strips that you can snack on for energy and health. Cheese is also an excellent snack and you can make healthy protein snacks by putting lumps of tasty cheese on a kebab stick along with cherry tomatoes, grapes, and avocado. For a very quick snack, peel a hardboiled egg. Eggs have lots of protein plus the necessary vitamins for your day. To combine protein and carbohydrates eat some cheese with some wholegrain crackers or make an after-workout snack with some turkey on a wholegrain bagel, finished off with some fresh berries or yogurt for an extra energy boost.
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