With school starting back up, many new habits need to be established. It’s extremely important to develop good eating habits at the beginning of the school year, so they become natural as the year progresses. It’s easy to reach for a bag of chips or a pack of cookies before you head to practice or work; however, eating those unhealthy snacks can keep you from performing your best. Here are my favorite snack ideas, both quick and easy, to help you succeed beyond the school day:
Protein Energy Bites - Protein Balls are simple to make and easy to grab when you're in a hurry. You can prep them on the weekends so they're ready to use throughout the week. These are a great alternative to the traditional granola bar.
Apples and Nut Butter - My favorite is hazelnut almond butter; it comes in small packages that are easy to pack for on-the-go. If almond butter isn’t your preference, there's always peanut and cashew butter.
Trail Mix - Theres are many variations of trail mix which makes it easy to find one you like. It’s also easy to make on your own with all the ingredient you know you’ll enjoy.
Dried Fruit - Mango, pineapple, and cherries are my personal favorites, but almost all types of fruits are available dried. They sell small serving-size packages or in bulk; either way, they are easy to distribute into small snack bags and pack for later.
Vegetables and Hummus - Vegetables and hummus are the perfect pair! I like to buy the single-serving hummus packages at Kroger and dip my cucumbers and carrots in them.
Yogurt and granola - There are many kinds of granola to interchange in your yogurts to keep it interesting.
Smoothies - You can meal prep smoothies in your freezer to make it even easier. Kroger even sells frozen smoothie mixes, so all you have to do is add liquid and blend it.
Beef Sticks - A convenient on-the-go option is Chomp Sticks.
These are just of few of my favorite after-school snacks that keep my body fueled and ready to take on the next task. Make sure you’re choosing the right foods that will keep you ready and able to perform to your best ability.