When discussing how to keep a healthy and balanced diet, recommendations and suggestions are mainly focused on lunch and dinner meals. And it makes sense, those are the moments in which we eat the most. It is the time we sit down and enjoy a dish. Some also discuss breakfast, the most important meal of the day. If your breakfast is not healthy, how can the rest of your day be?
However, nobody talks about snacks. Nobody mentions those times in between meals in which we crave for something mouth-watering, but at the same time healthy. Snack time is one of the hardest habits to battle because, “I’ll have just a few fries, I’ll have something healthier for dinner.” If you can relate to this, you need these healthy snacks recipes.
Why is it important to have snacks?
Have you ever heard that, contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t be having four but six meals? That is because nutritionists suggest also having a snack in between meals. But what is the purpose behind the snacks?
As you probably already know, food is, most of the time, a reflection of our general state. This means that, whatever we are feeling it will probably reflect on how or what we eat. When we are feeling optimistic, we try to eat healthier food and keep healthier habits. However, when we are stressed or feel anxious, we go to the fatter end of foods. We tend to eat more and we do not pay close attention to what we are eating and how that can affect our health.
Snacks are a good way of tackling one of the most common issues, waiting for the next meal to arrive. The purpose of the snack is to keep you satiated until you are ready to have lunch or dinner. It is much better to have a small snack in between meals than overeating at dinner because you were so hungry. So, if you want to innovate with this important meal, here are some recipes for you to try.
Couscous chocolate granola
That’s right, couscous in your favorite granola. For those who don’t know, couscous is a semolina flour pastina. Contrary to what many believe, couscous is not a grain. It is a great option to consider for your granola as it is packed with vitamins and minerals. You can get a packet here: riceselect.com/product/riceselect-pearl-couscous.
To make it, consider mixing grated apples with couscous and oats. Dry everything in the oven for about fifteen minutes until everything is crispy. As for the couscous, cook it following the instructions in the package and then add it to the mix.
Mix the oats with the apple and the couscous and add cocoa powder, coconut oil and maple syrup. Give everything a good stir and let it cool before eating.
Flapjacks or pancakes
Pancakes are a pretty common solution when we crave a snack. The best thing about them is that they are rather easy to make and they can take as many ingredients as you want. In this sense, they are quite versatile and can be turned into a highly nutritious option.
Make sure you make a good amount and freeze them, that will solve the main issue about them, the time they take to make.
To make them, use banana, medjool dates, ground cinnamon, walnuts, vanilla extract and porridge oats. Boil the dates for about ten minutes. Then, with the help of a blender or food processor, mix all the ingredients together to form a paste.
Pour the paste in a square tin and top everything with crushed nuts and seeds. Take that to the oven for about 20 minutes. Cut it into smaller pieces and enjoy.
Melon and cereal pots
The options before were dairy-free, but this one is not. Pots like this one can be made in badges and stored in the fridge for up to five days. Moreover, this version takes melon, but of course you can use any fruit you want. Consider the ones that are less sugary like blueberries which are rich in antioxidants. Apples and peaches are also a good option.
To make it, cut the melon in small cubes and place them at the bottom of your chosen pot or cup. Cover that with some yogurt and top everything with your favorite cereal. You can also use the chocolate granola you made before. Include some seeds and pour some honey all over.
Take it to the fridge for at least one hour before eating.
Read Also: Healthy Indian Snacks For Kids That You Should Try
