Healthy Snacks

During the stressful time of worrying about major assignments and finals, it can be really easy to fall off track with your diet.  Normally, we seek comfort in food and tend to eat more than usual and more junk than usual – there’s no shame in this, it’s only human nature!  But given the circumstances that we are currently in, it’s even more tempting to reach for our favourite sugary snacks. Since most of us aren’t being very active (we don’t have much of a choice), these actions can really take a toll on our bodies.

Since we have more time on our hands, an easy way to keep occupied is to make some healthy food; and for those of you who are taking this opportunity to catch up on your favourite shows, YouTube channels, and as many movies as possible, a healthy snack to eat while watching these things is always a good idea.

My personal go-to has been apples with peanut/almond butter (if anybody reading this is allergic to nuts, apples would taste just as good with wowbutter).  It’s very fast and easy to make and it has many health benefits. Apples are very nutritious and are said to be very good for the heart. Meanwhile peanut butter is higher in protein which will help fill you up for a longer period of time.  If you have a little more time and energy or are looking to add something else to this delicious snack (perhaps some more crunch), mixing granola with some dark chocolate chips and dipping your peanut butter covered apple slice in it is really tasty! Granola holds lots of nutritional value! It’s a good source of iron, magnesium, and essential vitamins.

Another really tasty snack for anybody with a bit of a sweet tooth is banana toast! This just requires gathering some sliced bread (whole grain/wheat to be extra healthy) and toasting it, cutting a banana into some slices and placing the slices onto the toasted bread, then drizzling some honey or maple/agave syrup over top.  Bananas are a huge source of potassium and contain magnesium which are both really good for the health of your heart. Adding some carbs (the bread) to your snack always helps with making you feel fuller for a longer period of time, and honey is known to have many healing properties. If you choose to use a syrup instead of honey, syrups tend to be high in antioxidants!

Lastly, a granola yogurt mix.  If you mix your favourite granola with yogurt and drizzle it with honey/syrup, it’s a quick and easy snack to make and it’ll keep you filled up for a while.  We now know the benefits of granola and honey/syrup. With this snack, yogurt will provide your body with protein, calcium, and essential vitamins.

This is a scary and stressful time for everybody, but the best thing we can do right now (and always) is to take care of ourselves: our bodies and our minds.  By controlling what we put into our bodies and feeding our bodies nutritious foods, we begin to feel better physically which then leads to a healthier mental state.  Make sure to take care of yourselves and don’t beat yourself up if you reach for a couple of chocolate chip cookies – our bodies thank us for treats as well. Stay safe, stay inside, and stay healthy!




Posted in Blog.