Monday, August 26, 2019

A Nutritionist’s Favorite Snacks for Non-Stop Busy Days

gourmet trail mix recipe

You take a look at your calendar, and it’s one of those days where every hour is booked. Between meetings, errands, and a mile-long to-do list, you’ve got a full plate—and no time for a decent meal. How can you stick to your healthy eating plan when you barely have a moment to take a breath—let alone cook something nutritious?

Snacks might be your best bet. No, not a lousy bag of whatever’s in your nearest vending machine. We’re talking about protein-rich, nutrient-packed nibbles to get you through the day—the kind that nutritionists like Becky Jay Forman, MS, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant in New York City, rely on themselves.

Here, Forman reveals her favorite snacks for non-stop busy days. With tasty treats like these, you might even forget that you skipped lunch.

Related Reading: The Most Interesting Healthy Snacks On the Market

Nut butter and fruit

Amazon

A smear of your favorite nut butter on portable fruit, like an apple or banana, packs a sweet-and-savory punch that staves off tummy rumbles, says Forman.

“This duo provides about nine grams of protein, six grams of fiber, plus heart-healthy fats—a winning combination that will keep you feeling satiated and fueled to rock your to-do list,” she explains.

While just about any squeeze pack of nut butter will do, Forman prefers a few brands over others.

Justin's Maple Almond Butter Squeeze Packs, $9.50 on Amazon

These portable packets are perfect for getting your nut butter fix on the go.
Buy Now

“I love RxBar’s vanilla almond butter because it tastes like a sweet treat without any added sugar,” she says. “I also like Wild Friends creamy peanut butter because it contains only two ingredients: roasted peanuts and sea salt.”

Allergic to nuts? Go for sunflower seed butter instead, advises Forman.

Edamame

Lori Andrews/Getty Images

Looking for something healthy on the fly? Edamame will be your new best friend. One cup of the soybeans delivers 17 grams of protein and eight grams of fiber.

“Keep a bag of frozen edamame in your freezer at all times,” says Forman. “When you need an energy boost, pop the frozen pods in the microwave and you have a protein- and fiber-rich snack ready in mere minutes.”

Eating them straight from the pod comes with a key benefit that makes it worth the extra effort, she adds.

“It slows down your eating pace and prevents you from scarfing down your food too quickly, which can easily happen when you’re feeling stressed on extra busy days,” Forman explains.

Avocado with special seasoning

Westend61/Getty Images

Half an avocado is an instantly satisfying healthy snack, but Forman has a little secret to take this classic mini meal to the next level.

“Sprinkle on Everything But the Bagel seasoning and dig in with your spoon, or enjoy it with some whole grain crackers,” she suggests. “Either way, this tasty snack is flavorful and loaded with beneficial fats that will keep you feeling full and stabilize your blood sugar levels.”

Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel Sesame Seasoning, $6.40 on Amazon

Everything (well, almost everything) tastes better with Trader Joe's legendary seasoning blend.
Buy Now

Homemade trail mix

gourmet trail mix recipe

Chowhound’s Nutty Trail Mix

If you only nosh on trail mix when you’re hiking, you’re missing out on a healthy snack that can give you a boost of energy when you need it most.

“A DIY trail mix is always a terrific on-the-go option,” she said. “I create a snack-stash made with almonds, walnuts, air-popped popcorn, and pumpkin seeds.”

Head to the dry goods section of the grocery store and stock up on your favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and even chocolate. Stocking your pantry with the right ingredients will allow you to whip up some quick trail mix in no time.

“This shelf-stable snack keeps well in your bag or desk drawer, and requires no utensils,” adds Forman.

Envirogen Reusable Zip-Top Bags, 5 for $15.99 on Amazon

Pack your snacks in these reusable storage bags.
Buy Now

Roasted chickpeas

easy roasted chickpeas

Chowhound

Got a can of chickpeas in your cabinet? You’re already halfway to healthy snack heaven on a hectic day.

“Roasted chickpeas are easy and economical. Just 1/4 cup of these pop-able treats clocks in at six grams of fiber and six grams of plant-based protein that will keep your appetite in check and your blood sugar steady,” says Forman.

Roasting chickpeas is a piece of cake—just drain them, put them on a baking sheet, drizzle them with avocado oil, and sprinkle on salt. Then, pop them in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Boost the flavor with any seasoning you like (such as chili powder or paprika) just before eating.

But if that’s more effort than you have time for (no judgement!), Forman recommends stocking up on Biena’s single-serving roasted chickpea packs in flavors like sea salt, ranch and barbecue for easy snacking. A handful of these guys might stop your stomach from growling when you’ve still got a lot left to do.



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/30CAOnr
via IFTTT

Keto BBQ Recipes & Tips for a Satisfying Low-Carb Summer

Easy Cashew Chicken

Skip the Chinese takeout and make this Cashew Chicken at home! Marinate the chicken in peanut oil, chili powder, honey, and tamari, and then cook with onions and mushrooms.

Continue reading "Easy Cashew Chicken" »



from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2ZpQ8Y9
via IFTTT

Instant Pot Mini Is the Perfect Gift for a College Kid & It’s on Sale Now

An Instant Pot Mini is the perfect size for small spaces like dorm rooms and apartments, and it’s on sale for under $45 right now!

Just read through the many testimonials and you’ll understand why the Instant Pot pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, warmer, and rice cooker has been dubbed a “miracle machine.” Sure, it’s great for stick-to-your-ribs winter stews but it’s also great for warmer spring and summer nights when you have little to no desire to turn that hot oven on (since Instant Pot keeps all its cooking heat trapped within the air-locked vessel). It does breakfast too.

Related Reading: Yes, an Instant Pot Is Worth Getting | Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes

An Instant Pot is also an ultra-safe cooking machine perfect for students living in dorms and other small spaces; a great alternative to accident-prone hot plates. The Instant Pot Mini 3-quart model—currently on sale for less than $45 at Walmart—is small enough to fit on nearly any counter space and most recipes just call for dropping protein, sauce, stock, and other ingredients right into the base for a fast, healthy, and flavorful one-pot meal. From chicken chili to tender pulled pork, and hearty vegetable soups to Whole30 compliant meals, Instant Pot recipes often require minimal prep beyond a bit of chopping or dicing, with many clocking in well under an hour from start to finish (and most of that time it’s doing all the work, so you can concentrate on other things, like studying…or catching up on Netflix).

Related Reading: A College Student’s Guide to Grocery Shopping on a Budget

Snag the convenient Instant Pot Mini on deep discount for your dorm and encourage healthy eating and fewer trips to the all-you-can-eat cafeteria or greasy pizza stop.

Instant Pot LUX Mini 3-Quart Multi-Cooker, $45.99 on Walmart

Walmart

The Instant Pot Mini is the perfect programmable multi-cooker for small jobs, college students, or households with more modest cooking needs. It combines the power and speed of a pressure cooker with the ease of an advanced digital programming system for increased safety and accuracy. Make tender meats, quick and easy soups, stews, rice dishes, yogurt, macaroni and cheese, and much more in mere minutes. Cleanup is a breeze, too, with just one single stainless steel pot to rinse. Buy Now



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2L6z5Aa
via IFTTT

Starbucks Has a New Pumpkin Spice Drink for the First Time in 15 Years & We Are Here for It

Finally, Starbucks has a pumpkin spice option for the cold brew drinkers out there. Starting on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the Seattle-based coffee giant will release a brand new seasonal Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew for a limited run this fall, and it’s the first new pumpkin coffee drink since the Pumpkin Spice Latte hit the scene back in 2004.

Both the hot Pumpkin Spice Latte (or “PSL”) and cold/iced drinks (which the company reports account for half of its total sales) have become hallmarks of the brand—despite the teasing Starbucks often receives for the former—so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it would find a way to combine the two in one cool, pumpkin-laced coffee beverage for the hot coffee-averse.

Related Reading: Pumpkin Spice Products Are Already Here, For Better or For Worse

Described as “deliciously fall,” the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew laces Starbucks’ signature cold brew blend with pumpkin spice, then a dollop of pumpkin cream foam, and finally another light dusting of that all-important pumpkin spice on top.

Pumpkin spice has become its own semi-serious food category over the past several years during this time of year with countless brands releasing pumpkin spice versions ranging from the sensible Quaker Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal to the completely bizarre Pumpkin Spice Spam.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Flavored Single-Cup Coffee for Keurig, $24.98 on Amazon

Buy Now

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew will be priced starting at $4.45 for a grande, and contains significantly fewer calories than the original Pumpkin Spice Latte. We’ll be sure to report back with a taste test tomorrow as soon as they go on sale.



from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2NwXFgl
via IFTTT

Spicy Three-Chile Guacamole

Take your guacamole game from “nice” to “not sharing” with a combination of serrano, poblano, and jalapeño peppers! You'll be so happy after one bite of this spicy, smoky dip. Doing cartwheels in the middle of a party will seem like a perfectly reasonable thing to do.

Continue reading "Spicy Three-Chile Guacamole" »



from Simply Recipes https://ift.tt/2U2dop4
via IFTTT