Snacking on the go!

Do you spend a lot of your day in your vehicle?  Whether you are a taxi cab driver, salesperson, police officer or bus driver, being on the go and eating healthy are sometimes difficult to merge.  For convenience, we stop at drive-thru restaurants, coffee shops and the like...certainly having a quick caffeine and sugar fix will give you a short-lived energy kick, but what happens two hours later, after the sugar crash, when all you really want to do is have a  nap??  Nutritious snacking IS possible, costs less than take-out food and is far less damaging to your health.  Having snacks that offer a slower release of sugar provide a more stable, energy-filled day.  But really, who has time to prepare these great nutritional snacks?  ANSWER = YOU DO!!!  Here are some great ideas - more to follow soon!

Unsalted or lightly salted almonds:  available in just about every grocery store in town,  almonds had long been considered too fatty to be a healthy snack, but research has shown that the nuts actually lower blood cholesterol levels. 90 percent of the fats in almonds are unsaturated, and the nuts are high in protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and other antioxidants. Almonds may also help prevent osteoporosis and regulate blood pressure.  And the beauty of almonds is that it only takes a few handfuls to feel full.  For variety, throw in some extra goodies and make a trail mix of your own.  Where possible, organic is the way to go.  Try adding some dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, dried blueberries), seeds (unsalted sunflower, pumpkin or flax) or even some shredded coconut.  It will stay for days and days if in a tightly sealed zip-loc bag!


Granola:  a fantastic granola recipe is provided in my blog update of April 27th,  Make a double or even triple batch.  Munch on it during the day (as above) or better yet, pop it into a thermos with some cold skim milk or almond milk.  Grab your spoon and you will have healthy cereal with cold milk for at least six hours!


Air popped popcorn:  popcorn has been given a bad rap, thanks in large part to the unhealthy fats used by the movie theaters.  Did you know that a large popcorn with butter has 1640 calories and 126 grams of fat!!!  That's approximately the same fat content as 4 Big Macs!!  However, air popped popcorn is a fat-free crunchy treat that fantastic to munch on all day long!  Pop up a big batch in the morning, sprinkle with a bit of salt and even throw on a bit of nutritional yeast for a healthy energy-boost with a  slightly cheese-like flavour




Berries:  perhaps nature's most perfect fruit, berries (particularly blueberries) are steeped in antioxidants.  Antioxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals have been implicated in both heart disease and cancer.  As always, I prefer organic berries but all berries are liquid gold!  Before you start your day, wash your favorite mixture of berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries), pat down well with paper towel to dry up moisture which can cause sogginess and pack in a small plastic (NON BPA!) container.  Beware of your over-the-top energy levels that day!!!  lol


An apple a day.....that's right, good old plain apples!  Quercertin, an antioxidant that is found mainly in the skin of apples, has proven more effective than vitamin C at protecting brain cells from oxidative damage.  AND they taste good!!!  According to one study, women who consumed an apple each day were 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes.  Simply cut up an apple or two in the morning, sprinkle with some lemon juice to prevent browning (optional) and perhaps a drizzle of cinnamon or maple syrup as an added treat. 


Smoothie:  Keep that thermos close at hand and whip up a smoothie before you head out onto the road.  The delicious thick smoothie will keep you feeling full, is a decadent way to beat the summer heat and will boost your fruit intake tremendously.  With a blender, combine skim milk or almond milk, your fruits of choice (strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, pineapples are some of my favorites) and a few teaspoons of either maple syrup or stevia.  Pour into a thermos and sip all day long.  You will be satisfied and energized!

Frozen Grapes:  another treat to beat the summer heat...simply pop a bunch of grapes (red if possible) in the freezer overnight...pack up and nibble on these frozen delights...they won't keep frozen all day (an ice pack or thermos or cooler or foil might help delay the inevitable thaw!) but even thawed, grapes are a great treat.  


Keep your eye on the blog in the coming weeks as we detail more healthy snacks-on-the-run. And as always, post your comments or suggestions - they are always welcome!