We have all been there. It is the middle of the day, not quite time for dinner but hours after lunch and your stomach is rumbling. Those new “healthier” lunches you have been eating just aren’t quite filling you up but you really don’t want to ruin your diet by binging on empty carbs, sugary cookies or fat-laden snacks (even though you may really really want to!). You need something to carry you over from one meal to the next that will satisfy your mental need for food while still being healthy. What can you do?! These snacks are all here to help!
Roasted Chickpeas
This is one of the easiest snack and also one of the healthiest. All it requires is a can of chickpeas, some olive oil and any kind of seasoning you’d like. Simply drain the can of chickpeas and then toss them in 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Spread them on a sheet pan and sprinkle with your choice of seasoning (salt, garlic powder, dried basil, and cayenne pepper are all good options). Roast in a 450 degree F oven for 35 minutes. Let them cool and then snack away!
Roasted Chickpeas are gluten-free, vegan, full of vitamin C and high in fiber. This snack also stores well in an airtight container so you can make a big batch and snack on them whenever you need a quick bite.
Dried Edamame
Edamame is a great source of soy protein which is perfect for anyone following a vegan or vegetarian diet. Fibre, antioxidants and vitamin K are just a few more resources you will get from eating edamame. Oh and guess what else? They also may help reduce the risk of heart disease while being such a health snack already! Sign me up for some dried edamame!
There are plenty of brands of dried edamame you can find in the store or you can make your own by placing the edamame on a sheet tray in a flat layer. Drizzle with olive oil and then toss with salt, pepper or any other seasoning you would like. Roast in a 425-degree oven for 20 minutes and then enjoy! A perfect snack for those times when you just need something crunchy.
Spinach Chips
You read that correctly- spinach chips are totally a thing and a really healthy and one of the easy snacks to make. All you have to do is toss some baby spinach leaves with a tiny bit of olive oil (we’re talking a teaspoon or two, just enough to give the leaves a slight shine) and bake on a sheet tray in a 325-degree oven for 15 minutes. Out pops crispy, crunchy chips- perfect for satisfying any middle of the day snack need!
Spinach is (of course) vegetarian, vegan, low carb, low fat, gluten free and loaded with vitamins and minerals. The only downside to these chips is that they lose their crisp after a day or two but that really isn’t a problem as you will likely eat them all right away (and feel good about your snack choice too!).
Lollipops
There are plenty of lollipops on the market now that are sugar-free, made with real fruit and taste amazing. These are what you need to have on hand for those times when you can’t go another second without having a sweet treat. Lollipops also last a while and aren’t a snack you start and finish within a minute. This longevity means that you will be more likely to be satiated by a lollipop and be able to make it to your next meal without constantly thinking about food. And besides, isn’t sucking on a lollipop just fun? It’s like being a kid all over again!
Freeze Dried Fruits
This snack has become pretty popular with kids but it is perfect for adults looking for a snack to save them from a midday attack of the hangry’s (hungry/angry- a place no one wants to be!). Freeze dried fruit is just that- slices of fruit that have been freeze-dried which turns the fruit into a crunchy snack. These are perfect for when you want something crunchy and sweet. Since they are made with simply fruit, they fit into a wide variety of diets. Low cal, low fat- high taste! Just what you need
These five snacks are perfect to carry you from one meal to the next and seriously save your sanity while on a diet. Make them all, pick your favorites and never spend the whole afternoon obsessing over food again! Cure that craving before it gets out of hand!
