The Observer, November 9, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 10
Lighten Up: Everyone's guilty pleasure
Snacking…we're all guilty.
I am not going to lie. I eat six meals a day: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and finally snack number three. Although some people think snacking is a bad idea, I disagree. By snacking, it is easy to avoid becoming extremely hungry, or getting to the point that it does not matter what it is that you are putting into your mouth. As long as you choose your snacks wisely, eating six meals a day is perfectly healthy.
The problem is, when you are desperate for food during your last class of the day, it is extremely easy to just grab a bagel, a bag of chips, or a piece of candy to hold you over until dinner. This is when snacking becomes dangerous. So, here are some ideas for fast, easy, convenient, and most importantly, healthy snacks that you can throw in your book bag when you need a little bit of extra energy.
Rice cakes
Rice cakes come in many different flavors such as chocolate crunch, apple cinnamon, peanut butter, and even Cracker Jack butter toffee. Rice cakes also taste great plain and come in a number of different sizes. Most convenient are the Quaker 90 calorie packs, but rice cakes also come in a bigger size. If you prefer to put something on top of your rice cakes, try adding some peanut butter, fresh fruit, or even some hummus to the top. Rice cakes, along with your favorite topping, are great to throw into a baggie for a snack.
Make your own trail mix!
Trail mix is a great way to add fruit, protein, and whole grains to your diet. Combining ingredients such as dried fruit, peanuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and almonds into a homemade trail mix can be a great source of energy. This is a recipe that can be made many different ways. Any type of cereal, nut, dried fruit, and seed can be used. It is easiest to make a large container of trail mix and keep it in a plastic container. This way, you can pack a small amount for a snack.
Get your veggies in!
By combining a small whole-grain pita with your favorite type of hummus and some fresh vegetables, you will not only satisfy your hunger but also get in a needed serving of veggies. Hummus comes in many different flavors, such as roasted red pepper, which just so happens to be my personal favorite. This is a great snack since you can make it any time of the day, and save it for when you are super hungry. If you do not want to take the time to make a pita, hummus is great as a dip for your favorite veggies.
Start thinking ahead when you know you are going to have a busy day, with little time to eat. In addition, keep items such as baby carrots, celery sticks, fruit, and whole grain crackers in your room. This way, when you return home after a long day, you will avoid eating junk while you are waiting for lunch or dinner.
