Snacks are more than accessible—they’re everywhere. When I say everywhere, I mean EVERYWHERE! Besides the grocery store, you’ll find them in other places that weren’t there years ago. To name a few, gas stations, office supply stores, clothing stores, and pharmacies, where wellness and healing was once its sole purpose. Since many of us live on-the-go lives throughout the workweek, easy to buy grab & go snacks end up being a part of the daily routine. It especially happens on those all too common days when breakfast was skipped and work has already begun, hunger starts to strike but it’s not lunch time yet. And now, here comes the snack attack, and the hunt for a snack is on!
Snacking wouldn’t be an issue if most of what’s available were beneficial to our health. But a large percentage of snacks don’t fall into the category of health foods. What’s mostly available are a plethora of chips, sugary protein bars and sugar covered nuts (disguised as health foods), baked goods, and other sweet and savory cravers.
Previously, I was a very big snacker. My snack of choice was chocolate chip cookies, Mick & Ike candies, Hot Tamale candies, and potato chips—and my favorite especially while growing up were Cape Code chips. I’m from New England—it only makes sense. But later on, I discovered why I craved snacks so much. Well, 1. It didn’t help that at one time, my office was located in a supermarket and there were snacks constantly in my midst, 2. I was missing something(s) in my food intake—specific vitamins like B and D, 3. I was missing meals here and there like dinner, 4. I was stressed at times, usually due to work, and 5. I actually bought snacks! I see it this way—if I didn’t buy them, they wouldn’t be an option right? But the fact is, if something is at arm’s reach, you’re more likely to eat it often even if you’re not even hungry.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not against snacking altogether. What I am saying is, evaluate why you’re snacking in case there’s an issue to address, such as irregular meal times, vitamin deficiency, as well as emotional related eating. I want us all to be healthy and non-dependent on snacks. Are you with me!
One way to make sure we’re snacking in a healthy way is to make our own healthy snacks! I’ve got several ideas for you and they don’t include what you’ve probably heard before like “pack a bag of nuts for your snack drawer at work.” Although I love nuts, this is a chance to think outside of the snack bag and explore other options so it’s fun to make and eat! So here they are! I’ve curated 8 healthy snack ideas featuring one of my fun-to-make snacks, White Bean Hummus with Tomatoes + Peppers.
Peanut Butter Protein Balls, by HalfScratched.com
Edamame, by BetterHomesandGarden.com
Plantain Chips, by TheLittlePine.com
Homemade Natural Energy Bars, by Yardley
WHITE BEAN HUMMUS WITH PEPPERS, BY YARDLEY
Ingredients
2 cans Cannellini Beans
2 Garlic cloves
1 ½ Lemon, the juice
1 small or Plum Tomato, diced
1 Green Bell Pepper, matchstick cut
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 ½ Tsp. Sea Salt
Dash Cayenne Pepper
Dash Dried Basil, for garnish
Instructions
Blend Cannellini Beans (no water) in blender until smooth
Add garlic, fresh lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt together in the blender with the cannellini beans and blend, until smooth
Remove hummus onto plate or bowl
According to preference, arrange diced tomatoes, bell peppers, EVOO, and finish with cayenne and basil garnish
Dip away at your homemade hummus snack!
Here’s to powerful workweeks and good eats!
Love,
Yardley
