My Favourite Snack Foods

Recently, I have begun to see a naturopath to address some stress, skin, and digestive issues.  Little did I know that this would mean I would be put on an elimination detox diet for one month! No wheat (unless sprouted wheat bread), no gluten, no grains (except for quinoa), no dairy, and a few other restrictions.  Needless to say, I have been on it for about a week and a half and I am struggling.  It is so much harder to not eat certain things when someone else is restricting your intake.  I have never once dieted and never will, but this one month is the closest thing to a diet I will ever get to.  I am not trying to lose weight by any means, just identify some of my issues. 

Since I am burning through a lot of fuel while exercising, I have been left feeling hungry shortly after all of my meals.  I have had to re-evaluate and prep my meals and snacks ahead of time to stay organized and satisfied throughout the day.  I have discovered some delicious snacks I will outline below that I have been leaning on heavily to make it through this month long detox.  

Snacking is a great thing because it allows us to feed our bodies in between our larger meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and aids in maintaining our blood sugar levels so we don’t experience those sudden spikes and drops as we go about our day.  Don’t forget the importance of what you put inside your body too! Be aware of the ingredients of everything you consume.  Below are my current top 4 snacks to keep me going throughout the day!

1.Trail Mix
It is SO easy! Toss some nuts and seeds into a baggie and you are off.  They are full of healthy fats but remember to watch the amount you consume if watching your weight because they are high in calories.  Less is more in this case!  Try flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, almonds, or walnuts.

2. Energy Bars
Homemade is much better! Energy and granola bars bought at the store often contain many other ingredients to allow them to stay fresh longer and typically have added sugar.  Again, homemade gives you the freedom to toss in your favourite nuts and reap the benefits.  Give this recipe a try the next time you are craving your favourite store bought energy bar.

3. Dates
High in fibre, dates are a sweet treat I have been leaning on lately.  They give me just the perfect amount to satisfy my sweet tooth.  My favourite thing to add to them is pumpkin seed butter.  While on Project North with Nike this past winter, the kitchen staff served us dates with pumpkin seed butter and sprinkled with cinnamon.  Substituting pumpkin seed butter in for peanut butter is a smart choice since peanuts cause a lot of inflammation within our bodies.  I am a peanut butter addict, and trust me, I think it tastes even more delicious!

4. Smoothies
Smoothies can be personalized and whipped up so fast that they are a great snack or even meal replacement when eating on the run, and in my case, eating with a restricted diet.  There are plenty of vegan protein powders out there to add and you can take some of those extra nuts and seeds from the trail mix and add them into the blender.  Not only do they provide some added texture to your drink but also many health benefits.  For those that consume dairy, add some yogurt or milk, or my new favourite, almond milk, and toss in some kale or spinach-you’ll never know it is there because it takes the taste of all the other delicious stuff inside! Don’t forget your favourite fruits to add some colour and flavour!

There you go! My quick and simple top 4 snacks! Give them a go and let me know what you think or feel free to share your own favourite healthy snacks.  Remember, homemade is always better than store bought because you know exactly what is inside and you can personalize it to accommodate for your favourite foods! Enjoy!

Be fierce. Be strong. Be vibrant.

Rachel