The Satisfying Snacks Getting us Through the Pandemic
One of the biggest frustrations I hear from people during the pandemic is about cravings and snacking, so I thought I’d share some of the nutritious and satisfying snacks we’re enjoying here in our quarantine cocoon, to give you some fresh ideas.
- Peanut butter smeared on a banana. Make it into a sandwich (half or whole) if you’re hungrier, on it’s own if not. Good with milk too.
- Hummus and crackers. Hummus is basically pureed chickpeas, with all of their fibre and potassium and protein. It’s great with carrots, but sometimes crackers are just easier and more satisfying. Bonus if they’re whole grain, like Triscuits or Ryvita.
My first batch of hummus! Nothing against storebought, but we’re minimizing trips to the store. - Popcorn. You know it’s a whole grain, right? Low glycemic index too. And high in fibre! What if you only like it with butter? That’s okay. A little butter isn’t likely to make a big difference in the grand scheme. You could do a lot worse.
- Cooked apples. Fresh apples are great, don’t get me wrong. But if you’re looking for more warm cozy from your snack, slicing them and microwaving for a few minutes gets you into the comfort food zone. Good with pecans if you have more of an appetite.
- Plain latte. No, I don’t have a fancy coffee maker at home either, but I just heat up a cup of milk in the microwave and add it to my coffee. Mmmmm.
- Chia pudding. Yes, this takes advance planning, but it only takes a few minutes to prepare, and so worth it. Thank you Angela Liddon (Oh She Glows) for introducing me to this creamy treat.
Blue chia pudding, thanks to a giant bag of frozen blueberries. - Toast with cheese and tomato. I’ve heard angst from some people about eating too much toast since the start of this, but when you balance it with a protein-rich food, it’s easier on the blood sugars and might just take the edge off of your appetite until dinner. And hello, if you’re going to the trouble of making homemade bread, you might as well enjoy it!
Yep, we’re baking bread.
Two things to keep in mind about this list. First, it’s okay to eat something not so nutritious for a snack too! A couple of times we’ve done big shops and I’ve picked up potato chips, which we normally only do for parties around here. My kids are living without their friends and favourite activities, so if a bag of chips can brighten their week a bit, I’m happy to do that, and have a few myself.
Second, knowing what to eat is only a tiny part of changing your eating habits. Our relationship with food can be complicated, so if you find yourself having more of chips/chocolate/bread/pasta than you’re comfortable with, don’t feel bad. It’s quite natural to crave highly palatable foods like these, especially when we’re under a lot of stress.
We’ll be talking more about this in the Well@Home group, so if you’d like to join us, it’s not too late!
What are your favourite satisfying and nutritious snacks? Join the conversation on Facebook.
