Snacking Smart

I love when I realize that Wednesday is halfway over. It reminds me that the weekend is just around the corner ;)

Work’s been busy as usual this morning, and I was more than ready for my lunch today.

Meal Planning

I’ve been getting better this week at planning my meals and snacks and actually prepping stuff the night before.

To be honest, Nick and I have been having a hard time getting out of bed since we got Maggie. We’re sleeping later, and it’s just tough to get up and get moving.

If I wait to pack my lunch in the morning, I just can’t get it all done! I end up forgetting something or packing something that I really didn’t want in the first place. This week, I’ve been making it a priority again to pack some stuff up at night. It helps so much!

Last night while dinner was heating up, I packed my salad and snack. It really only took 5 minutes, and since I was waiting on dinner anyways, it didn’t take me away from something else.

I brought the makings for a great big salad today.

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  • romaine 
  • avocado
  • corn
  • red onion
  • pinto beans
  • lime juice, salt, and olive oil for dressing
  • hard boiled egg

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Can’t wait for tomato season!

I also packed a good and healthy snack for this afternoon:

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Broccoli + hummus.

I don’t know what it is about having stuff prepped, but I feel so much calmer in the morning! Now if I could just do this every night…I’m working on it.

 

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Guest Post – Healthy Summer Snacks

I love snacking, but I also know that it’s the easiest way to get into real trouble if you’re trying to eat right. I find myself thinking I should eat more fruits and start enjoying a healthier type of snack, but it can be tough to remember what’s in season, what’s coming up, and what will be the easiest to make. Obviously, imports mean many fruits are available year-round, but catching a fruit in season means getting a domestic or local grower and an even fresher taste. Since spring is warming up and summer’s just around the corner, I thought I’d go over some fruits that are in season in the summer and offer some fun, healthy snack options.

   

Blueberries

Blueberries are high in antioxidants and are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and dietary fiber. They’re fantastic as a snack all on their own, whether you toss them with other fruit chunks or eat them on their own. You can even eat them frozen, right out of the package. Another option is to mix a few in with some plain yogurt, or add them to a bran cereal for a hearty but still healthy snack.

   

Broccoli

In addition to being loaded with vitamins A and C as well as dietary fiber, broccoli is a fresh green that contains anti-cancer properties. It can also help reduce your risk of heart disease. Steaming broccoli has long been a popular way of preparing it to eat, but you can also enjoy it raw, which makes it wonderfully simple to toss a few stalks in your lunch bag for a mid-morning snack at the office.

   

Peaches

Peaches are the third most popular fruit grown in the U.S., and they’re a great way to soothe your hunger without breaking your diet. One preferred way to enjoy them is to chop them, dry them, and snack on the chips. They’re naturally sweet but not loaded with sugars like candy or junk food, and the chips make a great addition to salads or as a side with a balanced meal.

   

Watermelons

This classic summer treat is a wonderful way to feed yourself or your family without worrying about unhealthy habits. A watermelon is 92% water, which means eating one will help you stay hydrated in the heat of summer, and it’s also loaded with vitamin C. Watermelons also have disease-preventing antioxidants, and they also serve as mild diuretics to help regulate the body. A slice or two of watermelon is a real treat, and it’s extremely low in calories.

   

Those are just a few options, too. Check with your grocer to see what’s in season, and you’ll be better prepared to stock your pantry with refreshing, healthy snacks all year.

 

This guest post is contributed by Donna Moore, who writes on the topics of massage therapy schools. She welcomes your comments at her email,  donnamoore20@gmail.com.

 

What are your favorite spring / summer snacks?

 

I cannot WAIT for fresh berries, peaches, and tomatoes. I already have a ton of recipes that I’m just waiting to make!

I also love fruit + yogurt and smoothies – they’re so good to have on a hot day.

And ice cream ;)

 

* Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

 

19 comments

  1. My favorite snacks are peaches! I can’t wait until the good crops are here

  2. I can’t wait for tomatoes either. I love them so much! I was in total panic mode when I though I could not eat them any more. But thankfully, they are back on my list!

  3. Definitely fruit and yogurt! So good. :)

  4. LOVE loaded salads :) eating one right now, in fact! I can’t wait for fresh tomatoes (mmmm bruschetta!!), good juicy strawberries, and peas from my garden!!

  5. Berries, corn and melon for sure!! Oh and ice cream obviously :-)

  6. I would be lost without packing the night before – although this week is weird since I didn’t go grocery shopping!

    Can’t wait for tomatoes to make my Baja Fresh Grilled Salsa!

    http://biz319.wordpress.com/category/baja-fresh-grilled-salsa/

    Do you have Baja Fresh Mexican by you??

  7. i love your spoon fork. i kinda forgot about it. that salad looks awesome and fiber filled! i would never be able to have time to pack lunch in the AM.. luckily i have a kitchen at work.

    i cant WAIT for tomatoes and peaches!

  8. Tomatoes! The only thing that I haven’t bought any since last fall. The ones in the grocery stores just don’t compare to homegrown ‘maters.

  9. I love your spoon fork, too.

    I cant wait for watermelon,
    Watermelon=summer

  10. Nice! I always pack our lunches while I prep dinner…it makes the morning way easier. Your salad looks awesome. What a great combination of flavors. Favorite summer snack= cantaloupe!

  11. my fave summer foods are cantaloupe, honeydew, & watermelon! MMMM!

  12. I just started prepping for the next day every night like a month ago and it’s made all the difference in the world. I get my coffee and smoothie ready so all I have to do is brew and blend and I pack up my lunch and lay out my clothes. It makes the mornings a breeze.

  13. I love to chomp on fresh berries all summer. And when peaches are in season I love the juice dripping down my chin.

  14. I feel stressed in the morning too but I can never get it all done at night, when I just want to relax after dinner.

  15. I heart cucumbers from the garden with a little salt and pepper!! So fresh and summery!

  16. this post is awesome! now that the warm weather has rolled around I am craving hugh jass salads and fresh fruit.

  17. Stone fruit! Pluots, peaches, plums…they’re all so delicious, and I wish they were in season all year round!

  18. That is my kind of lunch! We should put that on A Better Bag of Groceries and score it! I have a can of Pinto Beans that get a 100 on the NuVal scale!

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