When the working week begins, all intentions to eat healthy and snack well can fall by the wayside as deadlines, early mornings and general pressures take their toll. By Wednesday, many of us find ourselves reaching for a mid-morning cake or an after-lunch candy bar to keep ourselves energized and alert. However, it doesn’t have to be like this—here are three healthy, simple snacks which you can prep for the week ahead to avoid (as much as possible) relying on sugar and carbs to power you through.
Salad Box
On Sunday night, why not prep a simple salad box to take as a Monday mid-morning lift? Cut some carrot and cucumber sticks, halve some tomatoes and radishes, and scatter over some nuts and seeds for a boost of protein and healthy fats.
Oat Balls
These high-fibre oat balls are an excellent snack at any time of day. Nutty, with just a hint of natural sweetness, you can pack a few of these in your bag to nibble on throughout the day. To make them, simple soak one cup of porridge oats in half a cup of warm water. Allow to sit for 10 minutes, then scatter through two tablespoons of linseeds and one tablespoon of chia seeds. Add a little maple syrup or honey to taste, and enough peanut butter to bind the mix together. Roll into balls or bars and wrap in foil to keep them from sticking to each other.
Salsa
A quick, healthy salsa is a great snack to eat with lightly salted tortilla chips. Simple dice two cups of fresh tomatoes and mix in a bowl with one tablespoon of olive oil and one teaspoon of red wine vinegar. Finely dice a green or red pepper and add this to the salsa, and then very finely slice a chilli and add this. Mix everything well, and sprinkle over a little salt to finish.