Mon 6 Nov 2006
Don’t forget to go vote!!!
Ok, Internet, I need your help.
In my effort to make healthier choices, I need some ideas for that awful time in the mid-afternoon, usually sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 pm.
Coffee and chocolate have been my “pick-me-up” standbys. What can I do for a snack instead?
Here are the parameters:
- It can’t require refridgeration, at least not past the morning I’m going to eat it.
- It can require up to ~45 minutes of prep time, if that effort will get me 2-3 weeks worth of single-serving snacks. (Freezing is ok.)
- It can’t require day-of prep time.
- It should be healthier than a candy bar or a pop tart.
- It can’t be messy, as I’m going to be eating it at my desk.
- It can’t involve peanut butter. (I know, I know, I’m unamerican. I hate peanut butter.)
Don’t forget to go vote!!!
PLLP 11/6: Fruit, 1 organic gala apple; Veg, some carrots in dinner stew; Treat, 1 pc hazelnut chocolate candy; Exercise, took the stairs once today.
Don’t forget to go vote!!!
November 6th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
Unsweetened chocolate. Seriously. At first it tastes bitter and nasty, but after you get used to the lack of sweetener and get your body used to the fact that you do get a chocolate hit from it — and you really do — your body decides this stuff is okay and sends that signal to your tastebuds. It’s not filling, so for filling you might want something like a trail mix that’s mostly dried fruit with a little granola thrown in, but the unsweetened chocolate does lovely things to your body chemistry without the sugar and its attendant problems of candy chocolate.
Preparation = Finding it in the baking aisle in your local grocery store and getting past the initial bitterness. I recommend letting a tiny bit melt in your mouth to demonstrate to your tongue that, yes, this really is chocolate and not some weird trick.
November 7th, 2006 at 2:09 am
No peanut butter but what about dried fruit/nuts? Not the salted kind though, those are unhealthy. I’m not sure how it goes in the USA but here in Australia we get it from the market by weight. I didn’t really like it at first but eventually got used to it. =)
November 7th, 2006 at 5:27 am
I snack on raw Almonds mixed with Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. The Almonds have a lot of protein which helps pick me up, and the chocolate makes it more fun to eat.
I try to keep the amount of chocolate at about 1/8 of what the Almonds are. Also, a small amount of dried raspberries or cranberries mixed in is good too. But I keep an eye on those since they are high in sugar.
I also snack on Glenny’s Soy Crisps. They are like mini-rice cakes, but more flavorful. They are a little pricy if you buy them in a deli… but cheaper at grocery stores. They also have a lot of protein and are a good alternative if you need a salty snack like chips.
These were all solutions my nutritionist and I came up with to stop my 3pm vending machine trips.
November 7th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Try cashews mixed with dried cherries or cranberries. You can get cashews cheap at Aldi or Trader Joe’s (owned by same company).
My preggo snacks were breakfast bars from Aldi and vanilla soymilk. The “very vanilla” flavor from Silk is sweeter and richer, more treat-like. It fills you up.
Old stand-bys: Wheat thins. A can of pineapple chunks.
November 7th, 2006 at 10:14 am
i second nuts/dried fruit trail mix and soy crisps. also baby carrots. healthy cereal + single serving soy milk boxes. fruit (apple, banana, orange). you could bake low fat/high fiber muffins or homemade energy bars. buy luna bars, cliff bars, etc.
trader joes or whole foods will have all kinds of snacks healthier than a donut or chocolate bar. veggie booty, veggie stix, primal strips soy jerky, etc.
do you have access to boiling water? if so, there are all kinds of healthy soup cups & single serving oatmeal packs.
if you are going to eat chocolate, eat a little bit of very dark chocolate. most people find they can be satisfied with a small amount, and it’s better for you than a snickers bar.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:04 am
Ooo, yeah: Whole Foods! They have totally addictive whole grain pop tarts. (You said healthier than a Pop Tart, not NO pop tarts at all, hee.) A bit expensive, though.
November 7th, 2006 at 11:42 am
I second Glenny’s Soy Chips, carrots and hummus, raisins and nuts, yogurt and all bran, 100 calorie packs by Nabisco, sugar free hot chocolate, fruit bowls (cut up pinapple, melon, etc). Good luck!
November 7th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
Dark chocolate covered raisins!
November 7th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
The Emerald nut folks have small bags of tarted up nuts, like the “Pecan Pie Glazed Pecans” that I’m enjoying right now. Nuts are filling and crunchy and have good for you fat. They even come in a re-sealable bag. If you want to make them a bit healthier, just add undoctored nuts to the bag and shake a bit to mix. I also like the Apple Cinnamon Glazed Walnuts & Almonds.
November 7th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
With everyone on a bag of nuts for reasons stated above.
Re. chocolate: you could do worse than organic Green & Black chocolate. It is available in the US, tho expensive, but it tastes great so you need less of it.
I would recommend green tea instead of coffee. It can have a bit of a caffeine kick depending on the brand and contains antioxidants: very good for you. Alternatively you could try roobius (sp?) tea: also has antioxidants but contains more caffeine so will keep you alert.
November 7th, 2006 at 2:52 pm
i was going to suggest hummus but i don’t think you should leave it unrefrigerated.
November 7th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
And don’t forget good ol’ fashioned, easy to make Rice Krispie treats, which can be tarted up with caramel sauce or chocolate chips or dried fruit. However, I do not recommend substituting organic puffed brown rice, thinking it will give the final product savory depth. No, instead you get chewy wood chips ‘n’ marshmallows.
November 8th, 2006 at 12:06 am
Many thanks for all the good suggestions!
Nuts & dried fruit are absolutely going on the list! Great suggestions for the specifics. Dark dark dark chocolate will be cautiously experimented with as I love it but have no willpower.
I’m looking forward to trying these soy crisp things, and to exploring Aldi (the Trader Joes are way too far away) for healthier packaged snacks. And single-serve oatmeal is a brilliant idea!
Green tea is a possibility too. Unfortunately, I hate the smell of rooiboos tea. I think it smells like tobacco.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:42 am
Nuts are good, but watch for portions- nut portions are really small.
I agree with carrots with hummus or salsa or a faux guac (email for recipe- it’s got zuchinni),
Soy crisps are great- high protein, lots of flavors (the carmel ones are nice and sweet, and the salt and pepper one are awesomely peppery) so you don’t get bored.
Make some zuchinni or pumpkin muffins (trader joes has a healthy mix)- use apple sauce in the place of oil- these freeze really well.
Cliff Nectar Bars- these are 2 servings of fruit and not much else. I recommend the dark chocolate and walnut. These tast like yummy, chewy brownies but is mainly dates. Tons of fiber (but chocolate!)
Finally- Kashi Go Lean crunch cereal- high fiber, low calorie, yummy, crunchy.
Good Luck
November 8th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
A container of yogurt keeps fine w/o refrig until mid afternoon. I know from experience.
Watch out for the carbs you eat at lunch. They kick insulin into high gear, so you feel hungry mid afternoon. More hungry the more carbs you ate at lunch. Better to aim for things harder to digest such as high concentration protein (e.g. chicken, tuna, etc) and lots of veggies (e.g. raw spinach, salad greens, etc.) Then the mid afternoon snack holds you longer, And the fewer carbs it has, the less starving you are likely to be at supper.
No, I didnt make all this up. South Beach Diet explains the chemistry. I’ve been trying it and it really works.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Weighing in late but jen got me into Luna bars for a fairly healthy quick bite, plus you can get some really good chocolate flavors. There’s nothing wrong w/ a little dark chocolate–it’s got a lot of antioxidants. Maybe you could buy a small piece to savor every afternoon. That and some fresh fruit are good. I’ve also baked chickpeas and it’s good, a little like nuts. And, if you’re near an Asian market, I’ve been buying bags of vacuum packed peeled chestnut that are really good.
November 11th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Instant oatmeal. Apples. Applesauce.
I also keep spicy Asian soup in my desk.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:07 am
Liza, congrats on your great blog, and on Noah!!! Wooeeee!
11/21 I broke my right wrist badly-typing left finger, slow-so you might want give me a phone ring about snack specifics, but…
I have been doing Body for Life Bill Phillips, six 200-250 calorie meals per day. A palm size protein and a fist size good carb, and vegies. I am never hungry or craving. I don’t actually refrigerate any of these great snacks, and i prepare them Sunday for the week if necessary
THESE are ALL balanced protein carb snacks and will keep you satisfied for 2.5-4 hours:
1. Three oz chicken or meat w/ either 1/2 C br rice, or 1 apple, or 1 fruit, or sweet potato or squash
2. apple walnut egg fritatta (15 min to prepare 2-4 portions (eat cold or hot) request the recipe and i’ll send it
3. ham and olives egg fritatta
4. I steam Trader Joe’s tilapia, divide into 4 portions. With one portion, I will pour 1/2 or 1 C TJ’s boxed organic squash or tomato soup, for a fish chowder
i know these seem like weird snacks, but trail mix is good if you are skinny or have food restraint; i would eat 400-600 cal trail mix as a snackand want more
1 last great but weird:
Pancakes: 1C oats + 1C cottage cheese + 6 egg whites + 2pkg splenda + 1/4 tsp vanilla + 1/4 tsp salt. Put in blender. Pour on griddle. Makes 3 portions; good as meal, or snack next day. You’ll never feel guilty about eating pancakes again!
last, a late-night ice cream substitute…
1/2c cottage cheese + 1/2 C plain fat free yogurt + 1T walnuts + 1T dry cranberries + 1T unseweetened coca + splenda; mix very well.
warm best wishes to you 3 family!
Etana