I’m one of those people whose skin, mood, and overall wellness is determined by the foods I eat. Over the holidays I can confidently say that I overindulged in sugary foods, making me feel horrible and ruining the clear skin that I worked so hard for during previous months. My eyes are also weak, so it’s even more important that I monitor how much sugar I’m having. I found that snacks were my weak area, so I discovered and rediscovered a few healthy snack ideas that I enjoy and want to have more often this year. Obviously, sugary foods are not bad in moderation, but like many others, I find it hard to maintain this balance. This is why I wanted to share some (relatively) healthy snacks and breakfasts that I love to make, and hopefully, you’ll find them interesting too! (a few of these are so good that I just had to make a bit of commentary)
Snacks
Frozen blueberries
Frozen blueberries are by far my favorite snack right now. I find them so refreshing and sweet, that I often prefer eating a bowl of them to ice-cream or other desserts. You can eat them plain, but I love to squeeze some fresh lime juice on them or add a tiny bit of honey to spice things up. Try it out with other frozen fruits too!
Vegetables and hummus
Whole grain chips with guacamole
Fruit assortments
Make sure you always have a fruit accessible for a quick, refreshing snack. Fruit salads are a bit of work to prepare, but they taste delicious!
Soaked almonds
I’m not sure about other cultures, but if you’re Indian, you’re probably familiar with soaked almonds. All you do is put a handful of almonds in water and wait until the skin becomes soft enough to peel off. The peeling can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s worth it in the end!
Seasoned fresh vegetables
This is another popular snack in India that I grew up with and will never get sick of. Just chop up any vegetable you would like, squeeze lemon juice over top, and add a bit of salt, pepper, and chili power evenly (try some of your other favorite spices).
Breakfasts
Avocado toast
I know it may seem extreme, but replace your white bread with some good quality whole grain. You’ll barely notice the difference!
Greek yogurt with toppings
Top a bowl of Greek yogurt (or any variation you would like) with fruit (fresh or frozen), granola, honey (for taste), oats, or anything you see fit.
Protein pancakes
There are tons of great recipes you can find online and it may take a while to find one that works for you, but they can brighten your whole morning!
Smoothie bowls
Expectedly, frozen fruits (especially blueberries) are my breakfast MVPs. Just blend a bunch of your favorite frozen fruits together, add some protein powder if you want, and top with your favorite granola, peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, etc (get creative!).
Omelets
Add LOTS of vegetables to the point that your omelet barely stays intact.
Hopefully you found a few snack or breakfast idea to incorporate into your everyday routine. As you find healthy foods you enjoy (and there ARE), eating a healthy diet, or at least a balanced one it will just become second nature. Stay safe out there and snack on!