When you buy apples at the grocery store there are so many varieties to choose from. Sweet or tart, crunchy or grainy, you have so many options. But the second I bring them home and put one in my lunch bag it becomes oh god not another apple this is so boring! And then it risks sitting on the counter or in the fridge for 2 months, an endeavor which it will survive, since like all villains apples are indestructible.
All of this is to say that there are other healthy snack options that won't give you the yawns. I bestow upon you my favorite snack ideas in partnership with Enjoy Life Foods.
Make breakfast!
I cannot leave the house without having coffee and something to eat. I mean, I can but you wouldn't want to be anywhere near me. And then I still like to bring some food with me to work so I can have second breakfast. And then for first lunch - kidding!
The key here is to make sure your breakfast foods are nutritious and healthy. Starting your day in this way is proven to help your metabolism and give you a boost of energy.
I made this batch of oatmeal banana muffins by adding the following ingredients to one box of Enjoy Life Muffin Mix...
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp organic honey
- 1/4 cup rolled or steel cut oats
- 1 very ripe banana
- half a handful of Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips (it was a small handful, I swear!)
Mix all the ingredients together and then bake at 350F for 15 - 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Try adding blueberries and lemon zest, hemp seed and sunflower seed butter, or orange juice and pumpkin seeds. If you're craving fat, try spreading on some pure coconut oil. It's not only satisfying but extremely tasty and one of those good fats that's practically an instant wrinkle reducer, or so I'd like to think.
How is this a snack, you say? Because you can wrap them individually and pop 'em in your freezer. Next time you need a purse snack (below) just toss a frozen one in your bag and you're good to go.
Purse snacks
I've been known to pull any number of strange foods out of my purse/pocket/backpack. A farm carton of heirloom tomatoes, a bag of jumbo marshmallows, and in the unfortunate week that my dad packed my lunch in sixth grade; a dill pickle. There are normal alternatives and that won't get stares and/or rot your teeth.
I like to always have something with me when I'm out and about. You never know when you'll get hangry on the subway. Avoid elbowing that person whose armpit you're at eye level with and reach for a packet of seed mix instead. My absolute favorite thing to carry is a pouch of Seed and Fruit Mix and a piece of fruit. Sometimes I want something a little sweeter so the Mini Cookies are a tasty option and much easier to eat while walking. I'll balance it out with a low-sugar veggie such as an avocado or cucumber slices.
I even mix a baggie of seed mix and mini cookies for a quasi trail mix that I absolutely love. Toss in a few of the Chocolate Chunks and it's a perfect movie theatre snack. For more yummy grab and go ideas, check out Enjoy Life's convenient Grab-and-Go page!
What are your favorite snacks to take on the go?