Boredom eating is a real thing, and it is not easy to control when we are in lockdown. Working from home and just a few steps away from the fridge, the temptation is greater than ever. But not to worry, snacking is not bad if you do it in moderation. Also make sure it’s relatively healthy, meaning containing natural ingredients over heavily processed, and still stay within your calorie balance for the day. Here are a few suggestions for easy to make, tasty, low calories snacks.
Chocolate oat cake
290 calories
This is our go-to snack at any time of the day. It’s so quick and easy to make. It’s high in fiber and contains ‘good’ carbs from the oats, plus the melted chocolate in the middle makes it feel like a cheat. It’s definitely worth the 5 mins prep.
Ingredients:
⅓ cup of nut milk (or any milk)
1 teaspoon of cocoa powder
1 pinch of baking powder (or baking soda)
1 pinch of salt
⅓ oat powder
20 gram of dark chocolate (2 small pieces)
⅓ teaspoon of coconut oil / greek yoghurt (optional for extra moist)
Method
Add all the dry ingredients in a little bowl, mix them well. Add milk and whisk thoroughly. Add dark chocolate in the middle, cover up with mix.
Microwave for 2 mins and it’s ready to serve, It’s that easy!
*Tip* - add a spoon of greek yoghurt if you like hot-cold creamy dessert, or add a teaspoon of jam, peanut butter, honey or cacao nibs if you prefer it sweeter. Just don’t go too crazy and make sure you count those extra calories.
Sweet tortilla/chapati wrap
250 calories for 1 wrap, 5 mins.
Tortillas and chapatis are not just for savoury meals, they make surprisingly good dessert wraps too. Check out this sweet wrap snack that’ll satisfy your sweet tooth as well as your snack cravings.
Ingredient:
1 small chapati or tortilla
1 teaspoon peanut butter
1 small banana
1 teaspoon greek yoghurt
1 teaspoon cocoa nibs
1 teaspoon of unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
Method
Spread evenly peanut butter on half of the wrap
Spread evenly greek yoghurt in the other half of the wrap
Slice banana and place on peanut butter half
Sprinkle cocoa nibs and coconut on top of yogurt half.
Cut a straight line into a quarter of the wrap and fold the wraps in quarters to make a thick triangle shape tortilla/chapati and enjoy.
Tips: You can heat up the wraps on a non-stick pan for a couple mins each side before or put in the microwave for 30 seconds so the peanut butter will melt on the wraps, giving a creamier taste.
Overnight chia seed tiramisu
290 calories per serving
Another healthy, sweet snack is our overnight chia seed tiramisu. A healthy twist on the classic dessert that tastes just as good (in our opinion!) and is half the calories.
Ingredients: (2 portions)
2 tablespoons of chia seeds
½ cup almond milk (any milk)
1 tablespoon honey
1 tbsp cacao powder
2 tbsp cocoa nibs or 20 gram of dark chocolate break into small chunks
1 espresso shot
200 gram of non-fat Greek yoghurt
Method
Add milk, honey, cacao powder, espresso and chia seeds into an airtight container, whisk them thoroughly until well blended. Seal the container and store in the fridge for at least 30 mins until the chia seeds have created a nice gel-like consistency.
Using a small glass cup, add 2 tbsp of the chia seed mix then 2 tbsp of greek yogurt, and repeat one more time. again Top off with 1 tbsp of cacao nibs and some cacao powder to give it that classic tiramisu look!
Banana Chia seed cookies
Cookies can be one of those go-to snacks when we’re feeling peckish, however they usually come with an after feeling of guilt. Why believe this shouldn’t be the case if you snack on a few oreos, we do believe eating cookies made from natural ingredients is better for you and will keep you satiated for longer than those with additives and refined sugars. So here is the recipe for our banana chia seed cookies.
75 calories for 1 cookie, recipes for 15 cookies. 20 mins prep.
Ingredients
1 1/2 Tablespoons chia seeds
1/4 cup almond milk (or any milk)
2 ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup chopped dates or ¼ cup raisin
1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks or cacao nibs
1 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
large pinch of cinnamon
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a small bowl, add together the chia seeds and almond milk, stir and let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes, or until the chia seeds have created a gel-like consistency.
Pour the chia seed gel into a medium sized mixing bowl and add in the mashed bananas, oats, coconut, peanut butter and cinnamon until well combined.
Gently stir in the dates/raisins and chocolate chunks.
Scoop out the dough (about 1-2 tablespoons) onto a on stick baking tray or cookie sheet and use a fork to press the dough down a little to make more of a cookie shape. You should get about 15 cookies.
Place in the oven and bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookies have browned a bit.
Take out, let cool and enjoy.
Cookies can be stored in a sealed storage container in the fridge. They should last 5-7 days.