No judgment. I am a snack addict and for many many years, I have been reaching for numerous junk snacks from the store. Until I realized that I can actually make fantastic ones on my own, after which I won’t feel guilty or bloated. With time, I started removing as many processed foods as possible, getting to the point where all snacking cravings are taken care of with whole food, nutritious option.
So, when you or your family members feel like biting something between the meals or during your favourite series, remember these proposals for homemade snack heaven.
Spreads/dips and veggies
Nothing like a homemade, well-chilled hummus paired with fresh vegetable sticks. For example, carrots, celery and cucumber.
This is a highly nutritious snack that is low in unneeded salt and fat and high in fiber, protein, and vitamins. Additionally, it takes close-to-nothing time to prepare an attractive hummus & veggies plate for your family or guests. Apart from widely popular hummus, you can always go with guacamole or baba ganoush (recipe coming soon!) from the healthy/easy to make/sinfully delicious spread category.
Rice crackers
Do you have some cooked rice leftovers? Even if you don’t, this is basically all you need to make some spectacularly crunchy homemade rice crackers. Just cook some rice, add salt and seasoning if you like, and bake them in the oven. I adore the algae version, too 🙂
Homemade chocolate
Ok yes, this one requires a bit of waiting. But it is not the overnight thing, I promise. To make a truly indulging homemade chocolate, you basically need to melt the cacao butter, add raw cocoa powder, and a sweetener. I usually go with agave syrup. The rest is up to you – you can play it safe with chopped hazelnuts or experiment with chili flakes. Just let it sit in the freezer for approx 30 minutes and enjoy. You’re welcome.
Tropical cashew balls
One of those mix-all-the-ingredients-and-refrigerate recipes which brings the I can’t believe how easy and tasty it is! moments. The beauty of this dessert is the balance between the rich and creamy texture and refreshing hints of lemon. Perfect for a summer afternoon snack for everyone who loves coconut, really.
Spicy crunchy baked chickpeas
Forget about chips or popcorn! Spicy crunchy baked chickpeas are the healthier version of something simple, yet very tasty to much while watching a movie. All it takes are cooked chickpeas, the right mixture of spices and a hint of olive oil to prepare the ultimate snack, fresh from the oven!
So, preheat the oven and turn on the fan option. Line the baking tray with parchment paper. Cover it with cooked chickpeas, so that they are placed in one row. Season with grounded chilli flakes, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, ground cinnamon, salt and fresh pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and bake for around 15-20 mins until you see a crust forming.
For the sake of keeping this snack healthy, don’t buy the canned chickpeas. Instead, cook your own and enjoy the variety of aromas in your crunchy treat.
I hope my proposals shed a bit of light on how to fight your sweet or salty quick bite cravings. They are both time, budget and healthy diet-friendly, proving that in-between meal snack doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If you decide to ditch the processed foods which are packed with hidden salts, preservatives and sugars, you will quickly see the difference and feel amazing.