Healthy Snacks

Snacks are essential to life but more often than not, we will be easily swayed by the allure of the numerous chocolate bars, cleverly marketed cereal bars and fizzy drinks clamoring for attention on every magazine, shop till and bus-stop. Life is busy and work is result driven therefore we all need to fuel our bodies to perform. Ensuring you are eating adequate food sources regularly is essential to maintain a full tank of energy for whatever the day brings!

Another quick way to ensure you are not unnecessarily snacking and maintaining peak performance is by ensuring you are hydrated. As a sportswoman, hydration is part of my daily routine, a full bottle of water is always by my side.

For this blog post, I have teamed up with Ballygowan who are a great Irish company who meet the hydration needs of many workplaces and sports teams across the country. They have recently launched a new product, Sparklingly Fruity, which is a great replacement for anyone who favours fizz over water to meet their hydration needs.

So why not try some of my top five favourite snacks:

Water

Did you know our bodies are approximately 60% water? We are constantly losing and gaining water throughout the day, that’s why it is essential to keep a close eye on your urine colour and ensuring you are snacking on water. Again if you are trying to curb unnecessary snacking – simply have a bottle of water close at hand to banish cravings for sugar.

Nuts

A quick and easy source of essential fat, protein and numerous trace elements. Simply have a large bag of mixed nuts in your handbag, car or at your desk to ensure a healthy snack option at all times. A small amount goes far so this infograph is a great guide to portion sizes.

Apples Slices

Super quick, easy and tasty. Top with with nut butter, seeds or simply on their own.

Crunchy Banana Bites

Simply slather some nut butter over a banana and then roll in granola. These can be frozen or kept in the fridge until ready to be eaten. I find these great to have as a pre-match snack.

Oatcakes and Hummus

Oatcakes are a great source of slow release energy whilst the hummus is bursting with protein. Follow this super easy recipe to make your own oatcakes and beetroot hummus. Keep reading for my recipe!

Oatcakes

8oz oats
25g solid coconut oil
225ml boiling water

Blitz the oats in a blender of food processor until they form a coarse flour.
Melt the oil in the water and add to the oats. Combine with a fork until a dough forms, cover with cling film and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours.
Divide the dough in two and place one half between two sheets of parchment. Roll the dough out to about 1 inch thick.
Using a cookie cutter divide into portions. Repeat the process with the remaining half of dough. Place on a greased and lined baking tray.
Bake at 130°c for 1.5-2 hours. Allow to cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight box or freeze.

Minty Beetroot Hummus

400g tin broad beans
300g cooked beetroot
2 tbsp chopped mint
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
50g walnuts

Rinse and strain the tinned beans.
Place the beans, roughly chopped beetroot and mint in a food processor. Blitz until a smooth purée is formed.
Add the walnuts and lemon juice. Blitz again until fully combined.
Keeps fresh in the fridge for up to 4 days or divide into smaller portions and freeze.