Easy and healthy study snack

Spring is in it’s full swing and May Is the last call to work on our summer bodies. Being a student, eating healthy sounds boring and like a lot of work and money. Of course, Dominos might be calling your name at 10pm and there is a bunch of other distractions, studying which requires a snack, usually a pack of Lays, or late night fries in the city. These foods do not contain nutritional values nor will they keep you full for that long before you start craving something else, just as unhealthy, on top of that amazing snack you just had. Good news, i have something way better to offer, its delicious, takes about 5-10mins to prepare and will have you crave seconds which you won’t be feeling guilty of later on. These are my favourite healthy study snacks.

1. Avocado on Toast

Not to come as surprise, avocado on toast is a lot of people’s favourite and there is a good reason why. It is filled with healthy fats, it’s delicious and keeps you full for hours. The options are endless whether you like the avocado mashed or sliced, seasoned, with a sunny side up or poached egg on top, smoked salmon or with some grilled vegg or fried tomatoes. All you need is:

one avocado (I use half for one toast)
seasoning of choice
one lemon
an egg or topping of choice
a slice or two of good bread

In less than 10minutes, your toast is served!

2. Rice cakes with everything

Rice cakes on their own can be pretty plain, however that makes them perfect for making a variety of different combos. My personal favourite is peanut butter (or any other nut butter of choice), raspberry jam and some crushed almonds on top. Nut butters works with pretty much any kind of fruit, bananas and honey, apples and cinnamon, berries. You could also make them savory with avocados, hummus, cream cheese or pesto with tomatoes (like a rice cake bruschetta). These guilt free snacks are an amazing source of fiber and depending on the topping, protein or healthy fats which will satisfy your sweet tooth while maintaining your calorie intake in check!

3.Burritos

Burritos you order are often filled with greasy cheese, loaded with salt and overfilled with sauce. Instead, homemade burritos are heartwarming, filling, versatile and, of course, healthy! Everything you make at home allows you to control the quality and quantity of food put into it. With burritos, a good spoonful of crème fresh or guac is a good substitute for sauces filled with oils , sugar and salt. Whether you will put an omelette, fresh salsa and feta cheese, mozzarella , pesto and tomatoes or a portion of rice with beans, corn, meat of choice and vegg is up to you! Its quick, fun to make, satisfying and full of fresh homemade flavors.

4. Smoothies/ smoothie bowls

I have been living of these the whole summer. There are endless combinations of flavors to put together, bursting with vitamins to keep you energized throughout the day. Smoothies can be quite pricey in cafes and by making them yourself, you can boost the nutrition to the fullest. I always start with a banana for sweetness and texture, the liquid of choice can be anything from yogurts and milk to juice and coconut water. Whether fruits you add are frozen and whether the liquid is thicker will determine the consistency and thus whether you are making a smoothie or a smoothie bowl. Besides berries, mangoes, pineapples, kiwis, coconuts, I love to add a scope of protein powder, chia seeds, flax seeds, spirulina powder and any other kind of superfoods which do not change the flavor but do wonders for your body. Nut butters work well too as they give a creamier texture and taste. Experiment with them, they will blend within a minute and you will never want any other healthy quick snack.

5. Yogurts (sweet or savory)

Yogurt with toppings, honey and nuts, some dark chocolate and almonds, or just fresh fruit is probably one of the easiest, most refreshing snacks you can have midday. It is filled with fats, probiotics and protein and depending on the toppings the nutritional value goes up. If you prefer a savory treat, try making a fresh yogurt dip with lemon, mint and olive oil for veggies or crackers. The perfect mediterranean snack doesn’t leave anyone indifferent.

6. Nuts and seeds

When stuck in town, nuts and seeds are probably the best thing to grab of a shelf. They are high in calories so will fill you up for hours, the healthiest snack to binge on when stressed and hungry, and are filled with amino-acids and protein which we all need. Roasting nuts and making a mix yourself is also an option as it gives you an opportunity to create your perfect mix without having to avoid raisins or search for almonds promised in a pack full of peanuts. Roasted nuts can also be flavored as you like, with less salt and more spice. Chickpeas are another great thing to roast and season yourself, pack in a lunch box and indulge in during the day. Trust me, you will go nuts for the nuts!

7. Chocolate balls

They don’t taste healthy at all, yet contain no eggs, sugar, flour, butter or milk. They are completely vegan, made in 5-10minutes and make a nice sweet treat. All you need is:

100g of Hazelnuts
100g of almonds
300g of pitted dates
Coconut flakes
100g melted dark chocolate

Dates are naturally really sweet, so after carefully removing pits from them, blend them until they form a paste which you can mold. Add crushed hazelnuts, almonds, coconut flakes or any other kind of nuts and seeds you wish. Knead the mixture as if you are making chocolate chip cookies until everything is well combined and form little balls. In the meantime melt the chocolate and dip each ball in dark chocolate. Place them in the fridge to cool for 30mins or overnight and I bet they’ll become a staple snack In your bag.

8. Healthy breads

These do require a bit more time, yet they are such a good thing to have on hand. Homemade breads make for a perfect breakfast or a snack. Anything from savory breads with olives and tomatoes, pesto, herbs or all sorts of grains and nuts to sweet banana, carrot or pumpkin bread or chocolate hazelnut one, will most certainly fill you up and make a perfect snack to have with tea or coffee. They are a good source of carbs and fiber which give you strength and are good for your digestion. I will give you a recipe for a chocolate hazelnut bread which tastes like chocolate heaven.

300g of roasted hazelnuts
4 egg
4 tbsp honey
4 tbsp cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
Vanilla extract
2 tbsp oil
Dark/white chocolate chips (or both)

Blend hazelnuts until a flour like texture, add in everything else and incorporate well. Lastly add chocolate. Bake in a greased tin for 45mins(the top will probably brown more but that’s okay) on 180°C. Let cool before cutting. It tastes like nutella without guilt.

I hope I have inspired you to try some of these recipes or modify them to your preferences. Healthy snacks are easy to make, the harder part is coming up with ideas which hopefully this blog post helped with. After a long period of studying and lacking sleep, only healthy foods will keep you going, make you feel good and energized and won’t pile up the extra weight.

Written by Elena – PR Committee