Creating Healthy Snacks To Crack Those Cravings
Often our schedules are so jam-packed that we end up snacking in between appointments or surrounded by spreadsheets. However when 3:30-itis hits and our bodies are craving a nutritious snack to keep our brains functioning at its best, we often neglect the importance of this meal by either skipping it or opting for a poorer choice that is high GI or contains saturated fat.
It’s important to consider planning a wholesome morning and afternoon snack; the aim is to look for something that is easy and nutritious that will sustain your hunger to keep you feeling fuller for longer. Try choosing a snack that is around 100-200 calories, is low GI and has a mix of complex carbohydrates for energy (such as wholegrains).
So what does it actually mean to eat healthy?
When you break it down, it can be as simple as 1-2-3-4!
- Grains – it’s important to have a source of wholegrains, whether that is wholegrain bread, brown rice, quinoa or a combination of grains. Ensure that at least half of your daily intake of grains are wholegrain.
- Protein – including some sort of lean meat or vegetarian protein source (chickpeas, lentils, nuts or seeds) is essential! These provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals including iron, zinc and B vitamins. Dairy is also a fantastic source of protein, and just two slices of tasty cheese or ½ cup of ricotta will provide 1/3 of your daily dairy intake.
- Vegetables – let’s not forget the veggies! They are a great source of dietary fibre which contributes to good digestive health as well as providing an abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep you fuller for longer.
- Good Fats – fat must appear even if it’s in a small way. Good fats (or healthy fats) are classified as unsaturated fats that are divided into polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Think avocado, pesto, tahini, olive oil and nut spreads.
Introducing Carman’s Super Seed & Grain Crackers!
At Carman’s we are oh-so-proud of our NEW Super Seed & Grain Crackers! Bursting with super seeds and grains, these naturally delicious snacks are made with simple, clean ingredients and have no added sugar.
These moreish new bites are available in three varieties – Ancient Grain & Cracked Pepper, a unique blend of quinoa, amaranth, millet, chia and linseed naturally flavoured with black pepper, Rosemary & Sea Salt, a classic aromatic cracker with a hint of salt, and Pepita & Poppy Seed, featuring whole, crunchy pepitas and fibre-rich poppy seeds.
Our crunchy crackers are the perfect wholegrain base to build you healthy snack on. Across the three flavours, there is an impressive amount of ingredients coming from seeds and grains; in fact they contain on average over 50% seeds and just over 30% grains, making them the perfect addition to any healthy snack recipe! Additional benefits of seeds and grains include dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and some protein.
Not only do these crackers make the perfect base for a great, easy healthy snack, they are also suitable for everyone! Free from genetically modified ingredients, Super Seed & Grain Crackers are gluten free, dairy free and vegan friendly. Plus they’re proudly Australian made and owned. Now that is a cracker of a product!
So, now it’s time to load up your crackers! First things first, just follow the basic 1-2-3-4 rule mentioned earlier. Step 1: Wholegrains – tick! Now for steps 2, 3 and 4, all you need to do is add your favourite toppings. Build your cracker with some lean protein, veggies and good fats and voila – your delicious healthy snack for work is complete. It doesn’t get more wholesome than that!
Carman’s Super Seed & Grain Crackers are now available in the health food aisle at Coles.
