When that pesky night-time hunger strikes, we know how easy it can be to chow down on a chocolate bar or dig your hand into a bag of crisps for the third time in a minute. However, mindlessly snacking on foods like these may cause you to go off track when trying to reach your health goals.
We caught up with Jess Hillard, Nutritionist at Everyone Health, for some of her go-to snacks when it comes to healthy and happy snacking.
If you like to end the night on a sweet note, Jess would recommend low-fat Greek yogurt with a squeeze of honey and plenty of fresh berries on top. Greek yogurt is a great protein source, with a 125g serving packing around 13g of protein in which is a massive help if you find yourself constantly hungry and searching for a snack.
More savoury than sweet? Jess also enjoys tucking into carrots and cucumber sticks with some low-fat hummus to fill a hole. If you’re not a hummus fan, then you can try tzatziki for a Greek twist. The protein in both dips helps to make this a much more filling and satisfying snack, rather than just gnawing on plain raw veggies.
Another sweet healthy snack that doesn’t break the bank is frozen fruits (Jess’ favourite is grapes!). Not only is frozen cheaper than fresh, but you’ll be sure to not find them going mouldy within days, and a little secret we’ll let you in on – they often taste better as they’re frozen right at their peak after being picked!
To make this snack a little bit more substantial, pair with some Greek yogurt or throw them into a blender with some yogurt and a small handful of oats to whizz up a healthy and tasty smoothie in no time. If you’re in need of some smoothie inspiration, we’ve got you covered with our fruit smoothie recipe here.
And saving the best until last! Jess’ ultimate favourite snack is 100% natural peanut butter and an assortment of berries (you can use any fruit you have on hand) topped onto rice cakes. Peanut butter is a good source of protein and rich in healthy fats, necessary for your heart health.
Although peanut butter is packed with nutrients, be mindful how much you’re using (or spreading!) as it is very calorie-dense and you can easily rack up the amount of calories you’re consuming. A typical serving size of peanut butter is 15g (1tbsp) which contains around 95 calories – use this as a guide when deciding how much you want to use.
Happy snacking, all!