Winter is around the corner! The cold means storing up more energy to stay warm – which means more eating. But there’s no need to feel bad for indulging in eating! Try out these healthy snacks to keep warm during the winter while also staying healthy.
Warm up those cold winter evenings with tea and spice it up with these healthy snacks!
1. Veggie Chips
You can bake vegetable chips using all kinds of veggies. Sweet potatoes, beets, yellow squash, zucchini, rutabagas, parsnips, potatoes, and even carrots!
Chop up your veggies into slices and put them in a pan. Add some olive oil and salt to give them extra taste. The salt gives them extra moisture, and that helps them crisp up nicely! Finally, your chips can head straight into the oven and come out crunchy.
2. Oatmeal Bowl
Start your day off right with the perfect bowl of oats! With its high fiber content, oatmeal is sure to keep you full all morning to conquer the day ahead.
Here are some of our must-have ingredients:
- rolled oats
- chia seeds
- flax seeds
- Greek yoghurt
- vanilla extract
- unsweetened almond milk
- protein powder
- dried and fresh fruit
- nuts and seeds
- granola
Combine all ingredients into a small saucepan and turn heat to medium/high until it’s boiling. Then, turn the heat down to low/medium and continually stir for around 3-5 minutes as the oatmeal cooks and thickens. Once the oatmeal is at the desired consistency, remove from heat, and serve immediately.
3. Hummus Dip
Hummus is commonly eaten in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Picture the taste of hummus with some local gallett – the perfect snack in the afternoon!
With a few simple tricks, you can make creamy smooth homemade hummus which is way better than store-bought. Plus, it’s made with real and healthy ingredients and it’s vegan!
Once you assemble your ingredients, you can make this recipe in one easy step! Just add the chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, water, garlic, and salt to a high-speed blender, and process until smooth. That’s it!
As you blend, add more water, as needed, to reach your desired consistency. If your blender has a baton, you may want to use it to help get things going.
4. Banana Pancakes
Filled with protein and a serving of fruit, here’s how to make banana pancakes:
- Begin by combining flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
- Whisk well and set aside.
- Mash the banana until almost smooth.
- Whisk with a fork to combine.
- Mix in the milk and vanilla extract.
- Pour the banana mixture and melted butter into the dry ingredients.
- Fold the batter with a rubber spatula. It will be thick and lumpy.
- Heat the vegetable oil with a pad of butter on a non-stick pan.
- Spoon the pancakes onto the pan and cook until some bubbles appear on the top and the underside is golden brown and crisp.
- Flip the pancakes and cook a few minutes more until ready to serve.
4. Roasted Nut Mix
Nuts like almonds, walnuts, and peanuts are great winter snacks. Whether you choose raw and roasted nuts, both are good for you and provide health benefits. They are tasty, tanked up with healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, and other nutrients that reduce the risk of inflammation and heart stroke.
Visit our gym in St. Julian’s and reach out to one of our personal trainers at Cynergi Health & Fitness Club so that you can give you a new and balanced diet to see results! Learn how to eat better and track your progress this winter. Make an appointment today to kickstart your journey!