It’s National Snack Moth! Snacking can be a smart way to help fill in nutrient gaps and keep energy levels up throughout the day. I have some smart snacking tips, and easy and delicious ideas that you can prepare at home, AND grab and go.
My first tip is to focus on building your snacks around produce.
Fruits and veggies are naturally low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals and filling fiber. My go-to for the season’s freshest, most delicious produce around is Sprouts Farmers Market where they keep seasonality always top of mind and work with local farmers to bring in the season’s freshest, most delicious produce including limited-time varieties you can’t find anywhere else. A great produce- forward snack you can prepare is cowboy caviar. In a large bowl, combine black beans, black eyed peas, corn, tomato, red nion, bell pepper AND cilantro,AND Toss with a vinegrette dressing of red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Serve with grain-free chips for dipping
Next, focus on building snacks around protein.
Protein is a satiating macronutrient that helps keep us full and is important for muscle growth, repair and maintenance. Sprouts offers a fresh, friendly take on grocery shopping, where exploration and discovery happen naturally with a wide variety of high-quality traditional and plant-based protein options to build your snacks around including yogurt, fresh meat and seafood, plant-based options from the bulk foods section like nuts, seeds and whole grains and supplements like protein powders. To make this yogurt bark, spread a thin layer of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, top with fresh fruit and granola and freeze until set before breaking into bite-sized pieces. To make these no-bake granola bars, combine 2.5 cups of rolled oats, 1 cup of nut butter and 1/3 cup of honey. add in your nutritious mix-ins – ¼ cup of nuts, ¼ cup of seeds and ¼ cup of shredded coconut or dried fruit. Press in a parchment paper lined 8 x 8 baking pan and place in the fridge to set before cutting into bars.
My last tip is to focus on nutrient-density when opting for snacks on the go.
Some smart options include popcorn which is filled with fiber. In fact, 3 cups of air popped popcorn is equivalent to one serving of whole grains. Cashews, pistachios and roasted chickpeas are sources of plant-based protein, and filling fiber.Roasted seaweed is a lower calorie, nutrient-dense potato chip swap. And meat sticks and protein shakes are convenient sources of on-the go protein. You can find all of these and more at Sprouts Farmer’s market where they offer a wide variety of better-for-you products to fit any lifestyle including seasonal items and unique attributed products such as plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, and more, all at affordable prices.
