Life seems to speed up during the fall and early winter. Unfortunately, business can sometimes mean making unhealthy snack choices because we need something quick and easy in-between events. Snacks can make or break how you feel throughout the upcoming season. Snacks high in refined sugar and carbs (i.e. cookies, candy, etc.) will only make you crash an hour later. We want to avoid this sugar rollercoaster, so it is important to find a few healthy and tasty snacks that you and your family will enjoy.
Healthy Snacking Tips
- If you are hungry, eat! You do not have to wait two hours until lunch if you are truly hungry. Each day is different.
- Focus on snacks that have some protein, fat, and fiber. If you are more active and feel like you need some complex carbohydrates, then have some! Listen to your body.
- As a general rule, eat every 3-4 hours. You don’t want your blood sugar to dip too low because that is when we tend to make poor choices.
- Eat a sizeable snack (or meal) before heading to a holiday party.
- Make sure your snack has some (real) color.
Snack Ideas
- Healthy trail mix: pumpkin seeds, almonds, walnuts, goji berries, and a few dark chocolate chips or cacao nibs
- Organic apple and handful of nuts or nut butter
- Raw veggies and hummus
- Hardboiled egg/eggs and ¼-½ baked sweet potato with cinnamon
- Protein Shake: 1 cup unsweetened nondairy milk, favorite protein powder, ½ cup berries (I buy frozen organic berries during the winter), 1 tablespoon coconut oil or butter
- Super Paleo Snacks: If you want to make a snacks ahead of time, Landria Voigt, our Nutritional Consultant, has an amazing book chalk full of healthy snack ideas.
Below is one of my favorite snacks during this time of year that is portable, easy to make, and tastes like pumpkin pie (well sort of)!
Pumpkin Pie Chia Pudding
Serves 1
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond or coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1-2 teaspoons maple syrup
- ¼ cup pureed pumpkin
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash of pumpkin pie spice
- Pinch of Himalayan salt
Directions
Put everything into a mason jar and shake well. Place the jar in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight. I like to top mine with some chopped walnuts or pecans. Enjoy!
