5 Healthy Afternoon Snacks

5 Healthy Afternoon Snacks

As a runner and the Social Media Coordinator at Kintec, I am always on the lookout for new healthy recipes that keep me feeling satiated and energized throughout the day. Although I do eat a lot of fruit and vegetables as snacks, sometimes I need something a little more filling and interesting.

There are different schools of thoughts on whether you should snack throughout the day. It is important to determine how many calories and energy you require the day and what foods work best for your caloric needs.

During the work week, I find myself running in the evening, after work and before I eat dinner. As a result, I am going a long time between lunch and dinner. Without a doubt, running on empty negatively effects on my running performance. Furthermore, if I eat a good snack before, I do not over eat after my run due to my ravenous appetite from 6+ hours without food, which can be a major contributor to weight gain.

Here are some of my favourite healthy afternoon snacks:

Healthy Green Smoothies

(300-400 calories)

This smoothie is sunshine in a glass. I like to have it when I need a little boost of vitamins.

I blend 2 cups of organic baby spinach or baby kale
1 banana,
1/2 cup pineapple (fresh or frozen),
1/2 avocado
1 cup coconut water (young thai coconut water found in the freezer section)

Protein Balls

(approx 150 calories per ball 3cm in diameter)

This is the perfect snack for when you need something a little more satisfying. It tastes like a healthy chocolate bar!

1/4 cup chia seeds or hemp seeds
4 Tbsp. almond butter
3 Tbsp. dark cocoa powder (or cacao powder to keep it raw)
1/8 tsp. sea salt
20 pitted Medjool dates
1 Tbsp. coconut oil (melted, but not hot)
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Additional 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut for rolling

Ants on a Log

(250 calories)

You can never go wrong with a classic. This old childhood favourite that requires minimal preparation and is very tasty.

2 pieces of celery
Almond butter or any other nut butter of your choice
Raisins or dried cranberries

Yogurt Parfait

(300 calories)

You can mix and match toppings according to your mood and personal tastes. It looks really pretty layered in an old glass mason jar.

1/2 cup of 2% yogurt
Fresh or frozen blueberries
Sprinkling of granola or seed mixture (chia and hemp seeds are my preference)

Hard boiled egg

(150 calories)

Sometimes simplicity is best. Eggs are very healthy and satisfying. Try sprinkling some Cayenne or Paprika for an extra little spice.

2 hard boiled eggs with a light dusting of salt and pepper or paprika.