Healthy Snacks (part one)

For as long as I can remember, my go-to snack has been cereal. Sometimes I'd eat three or four bowls (jeez) because it was so un-satisfying. I'd be left feeling heavy, weighed down, and bloated. Gross. So, I had to come up with some healthy alternatives that would satisfy and also taste delicious. Here are a few of my favorites!

Smoothie

My go-to snack after school is a fruit and vegetable smoothie. I whip it up before I work out for a much needed energy boost. It keeps me going and doesn't weigh me down. These are the ingredients I use:

- 2 cups frozen pineapple

- 1 cup frozen blueberries

- 1 kale leaf (or handful of spinach)

- 2 small carrots

- 1 ripe banana

- 1 Tbsp flax seed

- 1 cup liquid (apple juice / almond milk / soy milk / OJ / dairy milk / etc.)

Blend everything together until smooth. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid.

this makes about two servings

Apples with almond butter

This snack takes about two minutes to whip up and it's absolutely delicious! Apples are full of fiber and they boost your blood sugar. Almond butter has healthy fats and protein. My favorite brand is Justin's which you can find at Safeway. There are other brands of course and you can even grind your own! (A Vitamix is a great tool to have when making your own nut butters!) 

Together, these two foods make a great snack!

Cheese, crackers, and apples

My favorite cheese in the whole world is Cracker Barrel. I love pairing it with Triscuit crackers and an apple. The cheese has protein, the crackers have carbs (I love carbs so much that I've been nicknamed the "Carb Queen") and the apple has fiber. Delicious!

So before you reach for a bag of chips or a bowl of cereal, try making one of these quick and healthy snacks! :)