When you are hungry for a snack, maybe around 10am, maybe 3pm or maybe 9pm, where do you go to first? My kids go directly to the pantry and I go directly to the fridge, which is the better choice? Finding a balance between the two is truly the sweet spot.
When both your fridge and pantry are stocked with the right staples, you can relieve the snacking stress. But first, take these Pre-Snacking Tips to make sure that it's actually the snack that you need.
Pre-Snacking Tips
1. Drink a tall glass of water.
When we crave something, it is often a sign of dehydration (among other things), which dissipates when you take a minute to drink water.
2. Be still.
Be still in your body and mind and ask yourself if you are tired, anxious, upset, looking for fuel, or any other emotions that can present themselves as "hunger".
When you realize you are actually in the hunger zone, look to the following for what to grab.
Top 5 Healthy Snacks from Fridge & Pantry
1. Hard Boiled Eggs
Not only are they perfectly good on their own, with a dash of salt, but they are also great to put on salads and to make a classic egg salad sandwich. Egg salad wrapped in a romaine lettuce leaf can also be a snack on it’s own.
2. Chips & Guacamole
The tortilla chips are easy to keep on hand in the pantry and the tip for avocados is to keep them in the fridge, and away from the bananas so they don't ripen too quickly. Make your guac with diced red onion, cilantro, salt & fresh squeezed lime juice. You can also turn this into Avocado Toast instead of chips.
3. Apple w/ Almond Butter
An apple is a perfect fruit for at home or on the go. Any nut butter and fruit or veggie combo that you love will work (Banana & Peanut Butter, Celery & Cashew butter, and to go Nut Free use SunButter).
4. Mixed Nuts w/ Dark Chocolate Chips
Keep a homemade mix of nuts in a container in the pantry (walnuts, almonds, cashews) and mix them with craisins and/or dark chocolate chips. Nuts have healthy fats and are very satisfying. Stay light on the chocolate, but it’s a great way to hit your sweet spot without over indulging.
5. Carrots & Hummus
It’s a classic, but you can have fun with this combo. Hummus is so easy to make if you have a can of Garbanzo Beans and Tahini in the pantry at all times (found in the “healthy” aisle or peanut butter aisle). In a blender combine both with fresh lemon, garlic, olive oil, cumin and salt. You can add in sun dried tomatoes, roasted carrots or any other spices you prefer. If you go with store bought, just read the ingredients, they should not be complicated. In the cooler months if you have roasted veggies (try to save them as leftovers) to dip in the hummus, that will be easier to digest and more warming, and use raw veggies in the warmer months.
