Snacks. Snacks.
I’ve been writing a lot lately all about snacks and finding ways to get in some extra, good quality ingredients that won’t kill your meal plans. I’ve also got several nutrition clients in elimination phases and we are getting creative with their food. So.. I decided to write all about snacks. My house could snack instead of eating meals honestly and we sometimes do. We went through a phase where we only ate meals but we have since shifted over. I travel 2 days a week between 3 facilities, all miles apart and I have very little time to stop for lunch so I usually just snack those days. Plus I just don’t “work” well during the day with a full stomach.
Most snacks should be between 150-300 calories. Good quality calories not one square of sugar for 300 calories. That won’t help you much will it? It’s amazing how my clients start performing better when they add a good quality snack to their day before they workout. I usually add two snacks a day to their plans.
Snacks- A food group somewhere between just ate and can't survive until dinner.
I remember my first job in fashion as a teenager (yes, that was my previous life) and my boss (a stunning woman dressed in super expensive clothes and high heels every single day) worked out religiously every afternoon. She would walk around all afternoon eating boiled new potatoes from a ziplocked bag. I finally said something and she offered me some. It was bizarre but now I appreciate it. 25 years later and I now understand you Ms. Nancy.. She knew what she needed for her cross fit workouts after work. I started working out about a year later but wouldn’t put the nutrition emphasis on my workouts for years after that.
Here is my big list of some awesome snacks for you to try.
I’ve discussed Kara Swanson before over at Lifewelllived.fitness and she is my go-to gluten free gal. She isn’t all gluten free by the way and just has some super clean and yummy recipes. Her blueberry cupcakes with lemon cream frosting are SOOO yummy.
My other FAVORITE person and blogger, Brittany Mullins at EatingBirdFood.com is fantastic. I can’t tell you how many times I have used her recipes. I actually have her site linked in my welcome packets to my new nutrition clients. You might remember the samoas incident where my youngest daughter had her entire class addicted to homemade samoas cookies only to find out later that I had made them with dates. She was mad for weeks. She actually just asked me recently to make her some. They are from Brittany and the best cookies EVER! I’ll attach my recipe below but check her site out as well.
I also have made all these and they are great too!
Baked Egg Muffins (I make several varieties of these often.)
Some of my own creations or staples in my house are my weekly nut mixes, okra chips, kale chips, and protein balls. The secret to ALL my nut mixes are Saffron Road crunchy chickpeas. Chipotle flavor is our all time favorite. Mix whatever nuts, chick peas, seeds, yummy things you have on hand and you are done. Portion out for the week and just grab while at your desk!
Snacks don’t have to be the bad, calorie rich foods that you imagine. Or the baby carrots that you are constantly pulling out of your bag. As I always say, play around and find what works for you. I hope you try some of the goodies above and send me your favorites if you think I will like them!
Much love,
Molly
Hey there!
I’m Molly, a fitness and nutrition coach for busy professionals who want to gain back their energy, feel stronger, and fit into their old clothes again.
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