Every day at the office, there’s a brutal attack. A snack attack. Our tummies start rumbling right around 3:30pm and our minds are made up: we need a snack and we need one NOW! Some of our girls cry out for chips and salsa, others beg for chocolate and sugary delicacies. Some even ask for Sauvignon Blanc, but that is a different can of worms.
It’s true—finding the perfect, convenient, fulfilling snack can be really tough. It gets even trickier when it comes to finding snacks that are both delicious and nutritious, two things that are equally important to us. We’d never have you snack on something gross, just because it’s healthy. We dig the BALANCE between healthy, wholesome and happy when it comes to our food choices.
Here’s the thing about snacking: it can easily get out of hand and throw you off BALANCE, especially if you’re distracted at work, watching TV, or taking care of your kids. And unfortunately, a little snack here and a little nibble there of the wrong things—like potato chips, trail mixes, crackers, or cookies—can add up quickly.
There’s a really easy way to avoid those naughty food: PREP your snacks! They take a little more effort than grabbing some Doritos at the gas station, but whip up these snacks and always have a healthy snack option within reach. Here are two of our favorite snacks: Chili-Lime Chickpeas and Kale Krisps! Prep ‘em, store ‘em, and take ‘em with you like we do, so that when 3:30 strikes, you’ll be ready.
Chili-lime Chickpeas
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 (15 oz) can organic chickpeas, rinsed and dried overnight
- 2 t extra virgin olive oil (for chickpeas)
- 3- 4 t chili powder, to taste
- 1 T extra virgin olive oil (for spice blend)
- 1 T lime juice,
- 3/4 t sea salt
- 1 t cumin
- 1/4 C fresh cilantro, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Pour the chickpeas into a colander, drain, and rinse very well under running water. Shake colander and pat dry. LET DRY OVERNIGHT!! This step is super-important because the chickpeas will only get crispy if they’re very dry 🙂
3. Once your chickpeas are dried, toss them in 2t of olive oil and spread out on a large cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 30 to 60 minutes, until lightly browned and crispy, stirring every 10 minutes so they don’t burn.
5. Combine remaining ingredients in a medium bowl.
6. Remove roasted peas from the oven and toss to taste with spice blend! This spice blend definitely has a kick, so add spice to taste!
KALE KRISPS
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 bunch organic kale
- 2 T olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 275°F.
2. Prep your kale: thoroughly wash each leaf and spin dry. Gently remove stems and tear leaves into 2-3 inch strips.
3. Toss in a large bowl with olive oil until evenly coated.
4. Place leaves in a single layer on an ungreased cookie sheet, making sure there is no overlap. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub each leaf evenly distribute.
5. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until chips are krisp 😉
What do you reach for when the snack attack strikes? We wanna hear from you! Tell us what you crave when that dreaded 3:30 hour rolls around each day so we can tweak it and give you a healthier option!
These two Balanced Eats snacks fit into M3 or M5 in your B.A.L.A.N.C.E.D Nutrition Guide. Whip them up and tell us what you think below! Get your very own Nutrition Guide in the POUND Rockout Results System with over 50+ recipes like these!