We’ve all been there. Usually, we hunt for any source of food around us, which most of the time happens to be chocolate, crisps or biscuits – anything will do at this hunger-stricken point! You gobble up what you’ve laid your hands on and what follows? Oh, yes, our dear friend guilt. All you wanted to do was have a simple snack and what you ended up having was a meal in the form of various – let’s be honest here – not-so-healthy snacks.
Well, we’re here to help you out with that! Hopefully, you’ll have an idea of what to eat next time you’re hungry for a snack, without the immense guilt afterwards.
Snack preparation
Something very easy to put together at home is Greek yoghurt with fruits and chia seeds. We guarantee it’ll take you less than two minutes to make. Just throw everything in a bowl, mix and eat. This snack is a good source of protein, fibre, omega-3 fatty acids and calcium. Make sure the yoghurt is plain so that you avoid excessive sugar. Just add a bit of honey or maple syrup if you’d like it to be sweeter.
You could also make some chia pudding the night before and have it ready to go the next day. All you need to do is to put ½ cup of chia seeds into 2 cups of water or milk/milk alternative of your choice and let the mixture sit overnight to set. You can top this with anything (healthy!) you fancy. Fruits and nuts are personal favourites. This is so easy and delicious.
You could always grab some dried fruits and a small package of raw, unsalted nuts for an on-the-go snack. Chopped dried fruits and nuts are easy to throw into a container the night before – in the morning, you can just grab and go. Plus, you’ll save money and calories!
Salads can also be eaten as snacks, and they don’t have to be boring. Make a salad with chickpeas, black beans, avocado and roasted veggies. Salad doesn’t always have to be plain leaves, you know! You could also make a bigger portion size and have it for lunch instead. For meat lovers, just add the meat of your choosing. Lean meat is recommended because it is much lower in fat.
Want something warm as a snack? There’s soup, mashed potato, roasted chickpeas with spices, sliced banana on wholewheat toast with almond butter and a drizzle of maple syrup… is your mouth beginning to water yet?
I don’t have time!
Now, for the readers who say they don’t have time to prepare their snacks in advance, we have some ideas for healthy snack options that you can find when you’re heading to work. 7-Elevens and Circle Ks are everywhere in Hong Kong. Although they don’t have the best reputations for providing healthy snacks, there are some healthy and budget-friendly options for you amidst the calorie-dense, unhealthy ones.
Grab some coconut water, unsweetened green tea, dark chocolate, packaged raw, unsalted nuts or plain yoghurt pots. There might be some healthy sandwich options with lean meat or fish, but be careful regarding their overall calories and fat count, usually from the addition of condiments. Always read the nutrition labels on the back to make sure there aren’t any weird ingredients that you’ve never heard of.
There are other shops with more snack options, though they might be a bit more costly than 7-Eleven. Taste, Fusion, ‘citysuper and Market Place are a few shops that carry healthy snacks like granola bars, protein bars, dried fruit and nut mixes, vegetable chips and organic and dairy-free chocolate. You could also pay a visit to organic shops such as JustGreen, Organic Plus and Spicebox Organics that carry paleo, vegan-friendly snacks that’ll satisfy your desire for crisps or chocolate.
Umm, can someone just make it for me?
We know there might be some of you out there who enjoy having something a bit more… creative as a snack or some who just don’t want to lift a finger to prepare anything at home. We’ve all been there! If you’re one of these folks, click here to be directed to a page full of Eatology’s scrumptious food that just appears at your doorstep. You won’t have to put in any effort at all except when opening your box!