Eating three meals a day plus a couple of snacks in between is good for keeping blood sugar levels stable and preventing energy slumps – but only if you choose the right snacks rather than a chocolate bar or packet of crisps. Here are some healthy snack ideas.
A piece of fresh fruit and a small tub of natural yoghurt or cottage cheese.
A handful of dried fruits with nuts or seeds.
Fresh fruit smoothie – whizz up some fruit with a cup of milk or natural yoghurt until smooth and creamy. Stir in a little ground flaxseed for a dose of healthy fats.
Fruit kebabs with a yoghurt dip. Skewer pieces of fruit. Soak some dried pears or apricots and simmer gently with a little water until tender. Purée until smooth then mix a spoonful into some natural yoghurt to make a tasty dip.
Have some nut butter or peanut butter spread on oat cakes, crackers or a wholegrain bagel. Hardboiled eggs or slices of avocado are also good.
A small tub of cottage cheese with chopped pineapple.
Eat some trail mix. Make your own to keep sugar levels down by combining a variety of toasted nuts, seeds, dried fruits, small Japanese rice crackers and wholegrain cereal squares or flakes.
Eat granola. Make your own by combining some oat flakes with a selection of different nuts and seeds and stir in enough apple juice to bring the mixture together to form large chunks. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes at 190ºC, 375ºF, gas mark 5 until golden brown. When cool, add some chopped dried fruit or coconut flakes. Store in an airtight container.
Tahini – sesame seed paste – spread on toasted fruit or raisin bread.
Wholegrain, rye or pumpernickel bread with a little pure fruit spread.
How’s this for a tasty healthy snack idea? Make your own flavoured nuts and seeds. Place a selection of nuts and seeds on a baking tray. Sprinkle some soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce over them and turn to coat them thoroughly. Bake in an oven stirring from time to time for about 5 minutes or until the nuts and seeds are golden brown. Leave to cool before storing in an airtight container.
Pâtés or dips with vegetable sticks. Buy or make your own dips and patés. Healthy choices include houmous, tzatziki, fish pâté or guacamole, and eat them with chopped carrot, pepper, cucumber or celery.
Cup of vegetable or miso soup.