Late-night cravings or mid-day cravings we all love to snack on something crunchy, sweet, sour, spicy, hot, or cold. We usually resort to something that is either easy to cook or right out of the bag. Snacking is considered a very unhealthy habit but it's a good practice if you follow portion control. We usually have three meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, at times, the intervals between the three can be long and tiresome it can be either due to our busy schedules or sleeping patterns so when we sit to have any meal either midday or at the end of it we usually end up eating it at supersonic speed and forget the fact that it can further lead to indigestion. Snacking helps curb that cause you are fueling your body with food in small quantities throughout the day, it in turn helps you to enjoy your meal rather than consuming too much too soon. 



 Snacking healthy has its benefits 
  • It keeps you moderately full
  • Keeps your hunger pangs at bay 
  • Boosts your energy
  • Helps maintain your blood sugar levels
  • Provides mental clarity

  

Here are 20 healthy recipes that are easy to make, some can be made in batches and used for up to a week/month, some are quick fixes and some take about 20 minutes tops!


Here are some substitutes 

  • Cow's Milk - almond milk, soy milk 
  • Animal-based Protein - Whey Protein, Peanut butter (refer recipe #1) sesame crumble (refer recipe #3) 


1) Peanut Butter

Health benefits: high in protein, healthy fats 

Ingredients 
  • Raw peanuts (100g)
  • Jaggery (1 ½ tbsp)
  • Salt (½ tsp) 
Recipe 
  • Roast raw peanuts till golden brown and crunchy.
  • Skin the roasted peanuts (a process used to remove the skin of any nut)
  • In a blender, add the skinned roasted peanuts, jaggery, ½ a teaspoon of salt, and blend.
  • This is going to take a while, so blend it for a good 10 to 15 mins, do take breaks.
  • Blend till you have reached your desired consistency.
  • Store in a clean air-tight jar, this will last in the refrigerator for about two weeks depending on how much you choose to consume
    Add this in your smoothies, a bowl of oats, over a slice of bread, or just enjoy a dollop of this deliciousness as it is.


2) Apple and Peanut Butter dip

Health Benefits: healthy blood sugar levels, loaded with nutrients, high in protein 

Ingredients 
  • Apples (2)
  • Peanut butter (2tbsp)

Recipe 
  • In a small bowl take 2 tbsp of peanut butter (refer recipe #1) or depending on your preference.
  • Cut up some fresh apples
  • Dip and enjoy it!

3) Sesame Crumble 

Health benefits: high in protein, antioxidants, minerals, healthy fats 

Ingredients 
  • White sesame seeds (200g)
  • Black jaggery (½ cup) 
  • Nuts (½ cup)

Recipe 
  • Roast 200g of white sesame seeds in a hot pan, preferably cast iron for a few mins or until golden brown. 
  • Add in chopped nuts of your choice, roast it till all of the ingredients are toasted.
  • Grate ½ a cup of black jaggery or depending on your preference.
  • Saute till all of them are combined or until the black jaggery has melted
  • You'll be left with this crunchy, and a very fragrant bowl of goodness. 
  • You can make a batch of this and use it for upto a week, store it in an air-tight container
  • Add this to your smoothies, over a toast of peanut butter, or simply enjoy this as it is.


4) Popcorn 

 Health benefits: High in antioxidants, improves blood circulation and digestive health.

 Ingredients
  • Popcorn kernels (1 cup)
  • Coconut oil (1tbsp) 
  • Chilli flakes (1tsp) spicy
  • Black Jaggery (1tbsp) sweet 

Recipe 
  • On a med-high flame heat 1 tbsp of coconut oil and add 1tsp of chili flakes or 1tbsp of black jaggery
  • Add a cup of popcorn kernels (not store-bought) and let it pop!
  • Your big old bowl of popcorn is ready.

 5) Corn 

Health benefits: Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals (note: it can spike your blood sugar levels so take note if you have diabetes)

Ingredients 
  • Corn, desired amount or (1cup)
  • Chilli powder or flakes (1tsp) 
  • Lime (½ tsp) 
  • Rock salt (a pinch)
Recipe 
  • Boil the desired amount of corn in a little water to avoid losing all the nutrients.
  • Squeeze in fresh lime juice, ½ tsp of chili powder or flakes, and a pinch of rock salt.
  • Stir and enjoy this tangy, spicy, and sour snack.


 6) Peanuts Salad 

Health benefits: high in protein, nutritious, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals.
 
Ingredients 
  • Roasted peanuts (1cup)
  • Onions (1 med size )
  • Green chillies (1, finely chopped)
  • Lime (½ tsp)

Recipe
  • In a bowl add the roasted peanuts, onions and green chillies 
  • Squeeze in some fresh lime juice
  • Mix well and enjoy!

 

7) Protein Pancakes

Health benefits: Fibre, healthy fats, high in protein 

Ingredients
  • Banana (1)
  • egg (1)
  • cinnamon stick (1med)
  • oats (1/2cup)
  • wheat flour (1cup)
  • honey (1tbsp)
  • baking soda (½ tsp)
  • rock salt ( a pinch)
  • milk ( 2 cups) or just eyeball it, make sure it isn't watery or too thick, it has to be like cake batter.
  • coconut oil 
 Recipe
  • Mix all the wet and dry ingredients with a hand mixer or a blender. 
  • Heat a pan (cast iron), a little coconut oil to grease the pan and scoop in a large spoon of this batter on a medium flame
  • Let it cook till small bubbles form and flip
  • Serve warm with fruits or honey (maple syrup takes a lot of energy to produce, it isn't a sustainable option)
  • Multiply the measurements when required!!


 8) Roasted seeds

 Health benefits: Fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, a superfood 

 Ingredients 
  • Pumpkin, sunflower,flax seeds - any seeds of your choice (500g)
  • Rock salt - optional
Recipe
  • Roast the seeds in a hot cast iron wok or deep-dish till golden brown
  • Sprinkle a little salt and voila
  • This crunchy snack is a great substitute for when you are craving for something savory and salty.
  • Batch make it and store it in an air-tight container 
Note: rock salt locks in the freshness for a longer time, this should stay fresh for about 6 months but batching making it monthly retains the freshness.



 9) Egg Frittata

Health benefits: high in protein, fibre. 

 Ingredients 
  • Eggs (2)
  • Capsicum - 1 (can be substituted with cooked meat or any vegetable of your choice)
  • Rock salt - a pinch
  • Pepper - ½ tsp 
  • Oregano - ½ tsp 
  • Milk (2 tbsps) 

-

 Recipe 
Stovetop
  • In a bowl beat all the above ingredients till frothy.
  • Heat a deep dish pan and pour the above mixture.
  • Cover the pan and let it cook for about 5mins or until golden brown and fluffy. 
  • Serve with toasted whole wheat bread or enjoy as it is
Microwave 
  • In a mug beat all the above ingredients till frothy
  • Microwave it on med-high for about 3 mins or until cooked.
  • Serve warm accompanied with a slice of toasted whole wheat bread or eat it as it is


10) Ragi chilla

Health benefits: whole grain, gluten-free, calcium, good crabs, vitamin D 

Ingredients
  • Ragi Flour (1 cup)
  • Chillies (2)
  • Onions (1 med size)
  • Salt (½ tsp)
  • Sesame seeds (1tbsp)
  • Water (1 cup)

-

  Recipe 
  • In a bowl mix the ragi flour, finely chopped chillies, onions, salt
  • Gradually add a cup water till all the ingredients are incorporated, the consistency should resemble dosa batter 
  • On a med-high flame pour a generous spoonful of this batter 
  • Sprinkle some sesame seeds for that added texture and let it sit for about 3-4 mins or until cooked.
  • Serve warm with coconut chutney (refer recipe #17) or enjoy it as it is.



11) Peanut butter and banana toast

Health benefits: Potassium, high in protein, healthy carbs and fats 

Ingredients 
  • Peanut butter 1tbsp (refer recipe #1)
  • Cinnamon powder (½ tsp)
  • Whole wheat or multigrain bread - (2 slices) 

Recipe 
  •  Toast the bread till golden brown and crispy 
  • Spread a generous spoonful or 1tbsp of your homemade peanut butter.
  • Slice up some bananas and place it on the toast
  • Sprinkle some cinnamon powder and enjoy!! 


12) Almond butter

Health benefits: Vitamin, fibre, protein, Vitamin E.

Ingredients 
  • Raw almonds (100g)
  • Jaggery (1 ½ tbsp)
  •  Salt (½ tsp) 
Recipe 
  • Roast raw almonds till golden brown and crunchy.
  • Skin the roasted almonds (a process used to remove the skin of any nut)
  • In a blender, add the skinned roasted almonds, jaggery, ½ a teaspoon of salt and blend.
  • This is going to take a while so blend it for a good 10 to 15 mins, do take breaks.
  • Blend till you have reached your desired consistency.
  • Store in a clean air-tight jar, this will last in the refrigerator for about a month depending on how much you choose to consume.
  • Add this in your smoothies, a bowl of oats, over a slice of bread, or just enjoy a dollop of this deliciousness as it is.  

   

13) Oats and coconut chilla

Health Benefits: Fibre, rich in antioxidants, improves bone health and digestion 

Ingredients 
  • Oats (1cup)
  • - Desiccated coconut (½ cup)
  • - Onions (1med) 
  • - Chillies (2med)
  • - Salt (½ tsp)
  • - Water (1cup)
Recipe 
  • In a bowl, mix all the above ingredients  
  • Gradually add water till all the ingredients are incorporated, the consistency should resemble dosa batter 
  • On a med-high flame pour a generous spoonful of this batter and cover it with a lid
  • Serve warm and enjoy as it is or with a generous helping of coconut chutney (refer recipe #17)


14) Fruit parfait with greek yogurt

Health benefits: Proteins, Calcium, Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids. 

Ingredients 
  • Chia seeds, sabja (1tbsp)
  • Fruits of your choice (strawberries, bananas, mango, apples, grapes, cherries, raisins etc)
  • Greek yogurt of your choice (flavoured or non-flavored )

          

Recipe 
  • Soak 1 tbsp of chia seeds in a bowl of water for about 15 mins.
  • In a tall glass alternate layers between fruits, greek yogurt and chia seeds
  • Serve cold and enjoy!


15) Smoothies

Healthy benefits: fibre,vitamins, protein, minerals, omega-3 fatty acid 

There are a few things to remember when making a smoothie
  • Types of fruits - preferably fresh and not canned 
  • Types of vegetables - fresh and not frozen 
  • Types of liquids - fresh and not loaded with preservatives (water, milk, coconut water)
  • Others - nut butters, seeds, sweetener, herbs

Recipe (fruit smoothie)
Banana and peanut butter smoothie
  • In a blender, chop up one large banana, a spoonful of peanut butter (refer recipe #1), milk (depending how thick you want it to be) vanilla essence and blend!!!
  • Serve cold
Recipe (vegetable smoothie)
Green juice 
  • In a blender dice up a large cucumber, a handful of coriander leaves, a inch of ginger, water and blend
  • Pour this in a glass and squeeze in the juice of half a lime.
  • Serve cold
 You can always choose to alternate between fruits and vegetables or use both in your smoothies, depending solely on your preference.


16) French toast with oats

Health benefits: Carbs, fibre, improves digestion 

Ingredients
  • Whole wheat bread (3 slices) 
  • Oats (½ cup)
  • Milk (1 cup)
  • Cinnamon powder (1 tsp)
  • Egg (1)
  • Vanilla essence (½ tsp)
  • Rock salt (a pinch) 
  • Honey (personal preference)

Recipe 
  • In a bowl add a cup of milk, ½ tsp cinnamon powder, one egg, ½ tsp vanilla essence, a pinch of salt and beat this mixture till frothy and let it sit.
  • In a plate, mix half a cup of oats and ½ tsp cinnamon powder.
  • Dip a slice of bread in the batter and then dip it in oats and cinnamon mixture. 
  • On a med flame heat a teaspoon of coconut oil and let this toast for a while or until golden brown.
  • Flip and let it cook for about 3 mins or so
  • Stack the warm french toast and drizzle with honey for that added sweetness


17) Coconut spread/dip

Health Benefits: Antioxidants, fibre, improves cholesterol 

Ingredients  
  • Desiccated Coconut - 1cup 
  • Coriander - ½ cup 
  • Chilli - 2 med 
  • Mint - ½ cup 
  • Tamarind - 2 pods of tamarind soaked in half a cup of water
  • Ginger - 1inch 
  • Salt - ½ tsp 
  • Peanuts - ½ cup

Recipe

  • In a blender add all the above ingredients and the water in which the tamarind was soaked.
  • Blend till it has reached your desired consistency.
  • Use it as a spread for your whole wheat sandwiches or as a dip with your vegetables also known as chutney it can be used as a healthier alternative to spreads and dips.


18) Protein balls

Health Benefits: nutritious, a superfood, whole foods, high in protein, healthy carbs, fats, and fiber.

Ingredients

  • Roasted cashews (½ cup)
  • Roasted almonds (½ cup)
  • Roasted oats (1 cup)
  • Dark chocolate (1 cup)
  • Cinnamon powder (1 tsp)
  • Honey (2 tbsp)
  • Vanilla extract (1tsp)
  • Dates (½ cup) seedless dates or de-seed it
  • Flaxseed powder - (2tbsp) (grind roasted flax seed powder)

Recipe

  • Dry Roast the cashews, almonds, and oats in a pan over med flame.
  • In a bowl add 2 tbsps of flaxseed powder with enough water to make it into a paste and let it sit for 2mins.
  • Add the honey, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon powder.
  • While that sits, chop up the roasted nuts, dark chocolate and mash up the dates.
  • Add all the above ingredients to a bowl of oats
  • Mix in well and form into balls
This will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a week. Your homemade ready to go high protein snack is ready!!


19) Hummus and Veggies

Health benefits: Plant-based protein, high in fibre, a superfood.

Ingredients
  • Boiled Chickpeas (kabuli chana) (2 cups)
  • - Roasted sesame seeds (1 tbsp)
  • - Garlic (6 med pods)
  • - Olive oil (2tbsp)
  • - Chilli flakes (1tsp)
  • - Salt  (½ tsp)
  • - Lime (1tsp)

-

Recipe
  • Heat some olive oil in a pan and roast some finely chopped garlic, till golden brown
  • In a blender, add the boiled chickpeas along with all the other ingredients and the roasted garlic, with a little water to loosen it up.
  • Blend till it has been nicely incorporated, the consistency should be thick.
  • Serve with vegetables like carrots, zucchini, bell peppers etc. You can even spread this over a toast of whole wheat bread or any bread of your choice and sprinkle a little chilli flakes and a dash of olive oil for that added zing.

20) Banana and Vanilla mug cake

Health Benefits: Potassium, protein, antioxidants

Ingredients
  • Wheat flour (1cup)
  • - Banana (1)
  • - Egg (1)
  • - Roasted Nuts ⅓ cup nuts of your choice
  • - Vanilla (½ tsp)
  • - Milk (½ cup) or until the batter resembles cake batter
  • - Baking soda (½ tsp)
  • - Honey (1tsp)
  • - Dark chocolate ⅓ cup (personal preference)

Recipe
  • In a blender add all the above ingredients except the roasted nuts and dark chocolate.
  • Pour this golden batter in a mug, alternating it between the roasted nuts and the dark chocolate
  • Put this in the microwave on a med-high temp for 5mins or until baked!
  • Serve warm with black coffee or eat it as a healthy dessert!


In conclusion

Ending the snack recipes on a sweeter note, So reach out for these healthy options rather than reaching out for that bag of chips or a box of cookies, it's okay to indulge in unhealthy treats at times but constantly making unhealthy choices over a healthy one will make you lethargic mentally and physically.

So "healthy"snack away!


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