Controlling That Snacking Itch! | Healthy Snack Recipe

You remember the famous "Freshman 15" back in college? Everyone and their Mama was preaching their horror stories with the Freshman 15. Now that we are at a point where we may be spending more time at home, it is even easier to reach for that after breakfast snack, after snack snack, after lunch snack and after dinner snack! Then, next thing you know....you've hit the "Quarantine 15" club!

Many of us may be snacking because we are bored, stressed, or maybe because the temptation is literally sitting in front of us all day. However, no time is better than to control that habit now and develop better ones and this blog post is going to do just that! In this blog post I will give you some tips to help control that snacking itch and also give you a great protein balls recipe to give you a healthier snack option as well!

Here are 5 tips to help that snacking itch!

1. Keep up with your water intake! I've said this in a previous blog post as well, but sometimes when you are hungry, you're not. It is actually your body telling you it's thirsty! So next time you feel hungry, drink a full glass of water. Wait a few minutes, and then see how you feel. Half the time, the hunger will go away like magic!

2. Practice mindful eating! Before reaching for your next snack, ask yourself...."when was the last time I ate?" If it was just an hour ago, take the time to evaluate your meal. Was you last meal just a slab of pasta and sauce? Could your body be telling you it's lacking in a macro or micro nutrient? Maybe it's time to add some added protein or micro nutrient today. The average person eats much less protein than what they should in a day. Make sure your meals are full of color and nutrients to ensure your body isn't deficient in something!

3. Stop reaching towards processed foods for snacks! This kind of goes hand in had with the last tip. Processed foods like Cheetos or Chips have a whole bunch of empty calories. They lack many vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function properly throughout the day. Be mindful of your snack choices. Instead of chips, reach for hummus and raw veggies for that crunch factor. If that's not your thing, take baby steps....trade out your bag of Lays chips for Popcorners (yum). Wherever you are with trying to break a bad habit, it's most important to be mindful of what you are snacking on.

4. Portion your snacks! It is so easy to eat from the bag and before you know it, your chips are getting smaller and smaller and then before you know it you're reaching for crumbs and the bag is empty! I preach this in my "Full Day of Eating" on my YouTube channel.....PORTION YOUR SNACKS! If you do this, you won't fall victim to eating the whole bag in one sitting!

5. Distract yourself! Now, we are all probably under quarantine at this point, so it can be hard to get active. However, sitting around can lead to boredom and boredom can lead to more snacking. Take a walk around the block, do some yoga, workout a little, DO SOMETHING! Now is the time to build great habits that can LAST! Make something of this extra time you have!

I hope these tips help you during this quarantine! Don't get me wrong, I've fallen victim to the snacking bug as well, but these tips have really helped me control that itch! With that being said, I've also had some extra time to play with snack recipes and found a DELICIOUS snack recipe that I'm so excited to share with you guys! These Peanut Butter and Cocao Protein Balls are sooooo good! They are packed with protein as well as healthy carbohydrate and fat sources! They are super easy to make and baking is not needed!

What's in them?

- Complete Vegan protein Powder for added good source of protein. (However, you can use any vanilla flavour protein you want)

- Cashews for protein and a healthy fat source!

- Cocoa Nibs to replace chocolate chips. These are natural, have significantly less sugar and have a great source of fibre and healthy fats!

- Peanut Butter for a rich creamy taste and healthy fat and protein source. (You can use any nut butter your want)

- Brown Rice Syrup which is another natural source like honey (which you can use to), but is a great vegan option!

How do you make them? Well here is the recipe!

And there you have it! If you try this recipe out, let me know what you think! Until next time!

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Disclaimer: The contents of this blog should not be taken as medical advice. If you have a health problem, this blog post is not intended to help treat, diagnose or cure it. This blog post is also not intended to replace and/or go against the advice of a physician or medical professional. Always consult with a doctor before taking advice and/or making changes to your health.