In the hours we spend awake in the day, sometimes it can be hard to stick to the basic routine of three meals a day. Whether it’s because you’re off schedule, too busy for routine, simply forget, or just aren’t in the mood, snacking can be seen as a quick and easy solution. That is, if it is done correctly. I’m sure we would all love to snack on the sweet and savoury snacks we know and love, all day every day. Who doesn’t love the taste of a chocolate biscuit? Or a sneaky packet of crisps? The cravings are natural, and it is good to treat yourself. And… in all honesty, sometimes you just need the serotonin boost to prop yourself up on a bad day. On the other hand, snacking on your favourite things can lead to more bad than good. Yes, you get a great serotonin boost, but the come down can make you feel worse than before you even ate. Snacking on sugary and salty foods can causes lots of problems with your hormones, weight, sleep pattern, blood sugar levels, and nutrient/mineral intake. It all comes down to the ultra-processing ingredients and emulsifiers that are hiding in the products. Can Snacks Be Good for You? Now, we are not saying snacking is out of the question. Snacking is not bad for you. There are plenty of sweet and savoury healthy snacks out there, and they have plenty of benefits. Healthy snacks can increase your nutrient intake, sustain and replenish your energy and hunger levels, and even help with muscle recovery. You just have to pick your food wisely. Avoiding foods that has been processed (food that has been altered from its natural state) through additives like preservatives, emulsifiers, and sugar is a good starting point. What Are Healthy Snacks? When doing your research on what ingredients you should be including in your health friendly snacks, you should look out for fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and foods with natural sugars. These foods will provide you with plenty of energy, a fulfilling and hopefully satisfying sense that will curve your cravings, and prevent a sugar crash. But how? What Are Nutrition-Dense Snacks? Foods that are high in nutrients and surprisingly low in calories. That is what nutrient-dense is defined as. Foods that are high in fibre, protein, and minerals; foods that work with your body rather than against it. Adding foods such as boiled eggs, cottage cheese, vegetables + hummus, smoothies, yoghurt bowls, granola, fruits + peanut butter, chia pudding, cheese + crackers, protein balls, mixed nuts/caramelised nuts, popcorn can have a great effect on your diet and lifestyle. These natural ingredients provide lots of essential minerals that help keep your body running as it should. Why Roasted, And Not Fried? Frying your food creates crispy textures and tasty flavours that ultimately adds an exciting layer to your cooking. It adds an element of creativity that is almost always a hit in the kitchen, but it comes with its issues. We fry our food in a range of oils, (nut, vegetable, sunflower, olive, coconut, avocado) and in the moment we do not think about what they contain. Most oils contain trans fats and Linoleic acids, of which our bodies can’t really break down, or digest. This leads to unwanted weight gain and inflammation. Oils that are used for frying also react with foods, in a way that reduces the amount of natural water and nutrients found in them, essentially removing the healthy element of the healthy snack. A more restored option for achieving that crispy texture and tasty flavouring can be through roasting your snacks. Drying your food in an oven is an easy and simple way of roasting. Nut snacks are a perfect test subject: Roasted Almonds, Roasted Honey coated nuts, Roasted Chilli nuts, Baked Smoky Almonds, Baked Peanuts, and Caramelised Cashews are just a few to name. Nuts are a versatile snack that don’t just have to be roasted. You can find all sorts of nuts in whole food shops and supermarkets. For example: seasoned almonds, salted nuts, and spicy nuts.
