Looking for healthy snack options for your break time? We got you!
As the day progresses, most people tend to feel sleepy during the evening. With hectic schedules and a stressful lifestyle, people often feel tired around the evening. A cup of tea is a convenient option for quick relief, but what one needs is a healthy snack to get through the remaining hours. Think of it as a break between the drudgery from lunchtime until drinks.
A healthy, preferably protein-rich snack is an ideal choice. It should give you a boost of energy to finish your work towards the end of the day. Some markets offer a vast range of snacking options, among which only a few are worthwhile since they stand out through the nutrients they possess.
Healthy snack ideas
Let’s look into some of the best snacking ideas to fix your evenings.
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Fruit salad
Fruit salad or fruit chaat is a popular delicacy in South Asia. It is a mix of seasonal fruits cut together with spices like chaat masala, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. For fruits, you might experiment with bananas, apples, pineapples, pomegranates, oranges, kiwi, etc. This colourful mixture is a unique blend of sweet and savoury flavours. Make it more appealing by cutting the fruits in block shapes of equal sizes or by using cookie cutters to cut stars, hearts, etc.
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Roasted makhana (fox nuts)
Makhana is nothing but fox cuts. You hardly need a moment; dry-roasting or a teaspoon of ghee will do. Feel free to add spices with which to excite the makhanas. Salt and pepper, chaat masala, whatever you please. On weekends, make a big batch and store them in an airtight container.
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Makhana chaat
To make makhanas top-notch, convert the roasted makhanas into a chaat. Take a large mixing bowl. Add the roasted makhanas and finely chopped onions and tomatoes. Add the juice of half a lemon. Adjust salt and pepper. Garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy! Serve immediately so the mixture doesn’t get soggy. You can also add curd to the mixture.
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Banana and peanut butter
The quickest evening snack is banana and peanut butter. As the name suggests, there are only two ingredients. Simply peel a banana, slice it up, and drizzle some peanut butter over it. You can garnish it with slivered almonds or as is. Bananas will provide you with instant energy while protein and healthy fats from the peanut butter will fill your stomach till dinner time.
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Protein shake
Another easy fix to keep you satiated for long is a protein shake. You can keep sachets of whey protein powder handy. All you need to do is take a bottle or a shaker, add protein powder to it and about 200ml of chilled water or milk. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds or until the shake is lump-free. As per your preferences, you can use plant-based protein as well.
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Protein smoothie
Jazz up your regular protein shake to turn it into an interesting blend. Add fruits like banana or avocado, nuts or nut butter to your protein shake to turn it into a protein smoothie. Ideally, milk or curd is used to prepare the protein smoothie. You can adjust the consistency. If it’s too thick, you can eat it from a bowl. Garnish your protein smoothie with granola, muesli, or seeds like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, etc.
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Homemade granola
Granola is a mix of oats, nuts, seeds and honey or a sweetener of your choice. Take roughly one cup of oats and small quantities of nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Add honey on top. Mix and spread it on a baking tray. Bake for about 15 minutes. Give it a good stir and bake for another 15 minutes. Let it cool down. Break the mixture into smaller clusters and store it in an airtight container. You can try different variations like adding cinnamon, coconut flakes, nut butter or cranberries.
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Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a healthy, warm and comforting option. The basic recipe is quick and simple with minimal ingredients. Take a microwave-safe bowl. Add some rolled oats and 2 tablespoons of water or milk. Microwave it for 60 seconds. Remove the bowl, give it a good stir and microwave it for another 30 seconds. You can repeat for one more time to adjust the consistency. Once done, you can add almond butter, honey, fresh fruits, dried fruits, seeds or homemade granola. Give it one last mix and enjoy it warm.
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Popcorn
Rich in carbohydrates and fibre, popcorn is another interesting snack option. Popcorn kernels are readily available in the market. Heat some oil in a saucepan and add 2-3 kernels. Let it pop. Once it starts popping, add the rest and cover the saucepan. Lower the heat. Once the popping stops, let it cool down. Add salt and pepper and enjoy your satiating dish. You can make various flavours at home by adding grated cheese or drizzling caramel sauce.
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Chia seed pudding
Chia seeds are also known for their high fibre content, making them an ideal option for a nutritious snack. To prepare chia pudding, combine chia seeds, milk, honey and vanilla in a bowl or container. Allow the mixture to rest for five minutes. Then, cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes or overnight. The pudding should have a thick texture. You can store chia pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. To diversify the flavour profile, consider enhancing the pudding with fresh or dried fruits.
Conclusion
Evening snacks are important to keep you energized and maintain your blood sugar levels. Instead of opting for junk food like a burger or pizza, consider these healthy snacking options. These are either instant recipes with minimal ingredients or something that you can prepare overnight and carry with you to your office or even while travelling.
FAQs
1. Can I have tea with my snacks?
Yes, you may have tea or coffee with your snacks. However, the ideal time to have tea would be 10-20 minutes after you’ve eaten your snack.
2. Can I skip evening snacks?
Ideally, one should not skip evening snacks. The snack between lunch and dinner time is to help you keep energized. If you are on a weight-loss journey, you can still consume some snacks. This will also ensure that you don’t indulge in quicker and unhealthier options like junk food.
3. What is the best time to eat evening snacks?
The best time to eat evening snacks is between 4 pm to 6 pm.
