Sometimes you just need a quick snack. Maybe you didn’t get time to eat breakfast or lunch, or what you did eat it wasn’t enough to tie you through to the next meal. I don’t think there is too much wrong with a snack – IF you keep it healthy and nutritious. So here are three snack recipes to keep in the fridge or freezer or to take to work in preparation for the 3 pm munchies. PLUS I have included some quick snacks that require no pre-preparation at all.
The key to a healthy snack that has long-lasting energy is to have some proteins, carbs, and fats in it. These three recipes will help you feel full and stop you dipping your hand in the biscuit jar or lolly bowl.
Matcha Truffles
- Ingredients:
- 2-3 cups of boiling water
- 1 cup of cashews
- 40g coconut butter
- 2 tsp matcha powder
- 4 tbs maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- ¾ cup desiccated coconut
- pinch of salt
- Extra desiccated coconut to roll them in.
Method:
- Soak the cashews in the boiled water for 15 minutes
- Strain the cashews and put in a food processor, blend until it becomes a smooth paste
- Add in softened coconut butter, matcha powder, maple syrup, vanilla, then blend again.
- Add in the desiccated coconut and pulse until well combined and the mixture looks like it could be rolled into balls
- Roll mixture into balls and then in the extra desiccated coconut
- Store in the fridge or freezer. I like to keep them in individual portions in the freezer so I can just grab one or two to take to work with me.
Roasted Cauliflower Bacon and Spinach Dip
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 4 bacon rashes
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 bag of baby spinach
- 1 cup of Greek Yoghurt (sugar-free)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp paprika
- Pinch of salt (to taste)
Method:
- Heat oven to 180 oC
- Line a baking tray with baking paper
- Cut up cauliflower and bacon and put on the lined baking tray
- Roast in the oven for 30 – 40 minutes or until soft. Remove when done and leave to cool.
- Heat a frypan add olive oil and spinach and wilt the spinach. It should only take 5 minutes at most. Leave to cool.
- When all the bacon, cauliflower and spinach have cooled (you could place in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process. They don’t have to be cold, but just around room temperature) add them to the food processor and blend until it becomes a paste. (If you prefer a chunky texture to your dips that is fine too!)
- Add Greek yoghurt, smoked paprika, paprika, salt and blend again
- Store in fridge in an airtight container or freeze in individual portion sizes. Take out of freezer the night before and leave in the fridge to defrost.
- Serve with carrot, celery, capsicum sticks or some of your favourite grain-free crackers.
Nutty Seedy Low Carb Bread
Ingredients:
- 100g sunflower seeds
- 75g psyllium husk
- 35g chia seeds
- 50g finely chopped almonds
- 25g coconut flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 2 eggs
- 50g melted butter
- 1 cup of warm water
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 oC
- Line a loaf tin with baking paper
- Mix together all the dry ingredients in a bowl
- Whisk together the eggs and melted butter, then add and combine well with the dry ingredients
- Add the warm water and mix in well
- Place all in the lined loaf tin and back for 35-45 minutes
- Cool in the tin and then remove and slice into individual slices
- Store individual slices in the freezer and reheat as desired. I like to reheat it under the grill or in the toaster and serve with butter and vegemite! Lol Yes, I love vegemite.
- Serving ideas: slathered in butter, avocado, with dip, poach an egg on top, nut-buttered, smashed banana on top.
These three recipes all require you to have been prepared earlier and stored away for use at a later date. All are good to be kept in the freezer for quite some time and great if kept in individual portions.
If you are looking for something even faster that requires NO cooking or prep some favourites of mine include:
- A handful of mixed raw nuts
- Cut apple and nut butter (I love cashew butter or almond butter)
- Boiled eggs
- Mashed avocado (I squirt in some sriracha to mix through) with carrot or celery sticks
I hope this keeps you running on all 8 cylinders and keeps your hands out of the biscuit and lolly temptation jars!
Yours in Health,
Dr. Anthea Holder
(Chiropractor and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner)
