We are all going through this pressure of COVID-19, and now that we've surpassed a month, we're getting very much used to it. As it's said, it takes 21 days to make or break a habit.
As we all lie around in our lounge wear all day — reading, chilling, watching shows on Netflix — we keep munching on all the food we've stocked at home. We're taking this quarantine period more like a summer vacation, and our eating is no longer dependent on physical hunger but on our "mental hunger," where we end up having more in between our 3 major meals.
Snacking can be tricky, but it can actually help you keep your weight and fitness on track.
1. Baked sweet potatoes with Greek yogurt & walnuts
Microwave a small or medium sweet potato for 3–5 minutes, until tender and soft. Once cooked, split it open and add 2 tbsp. of Greek yogurt and 1 tbsp. chopped walnuts.
2. Cucumber sticks and almond/peanut butter
So simple yet so delicious! Cooling, fibrous cucumber with yummy, healthy peanut butter keeps you full and energised for a long time. Portion size: 1 to 1.5 cucumbers, sliced, + 2 tbsp. unsweetened almond/peanut butter.
3. Makhanas
Makhana are a handy, light and easy-to-store snack. Have them between meals, or they work perfectly as a mid-night snack. You can either roast them in masala (red chilli, turmeric and a little salt) or have them plain.
4. Grilled paneer/tofu with pesto sauce
Grill 4–5 sticks of paneer or tofu cubes (15 grams each) and add home-made pesto sauce for an easy, yummy snack.
Home-made pesto:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1–2 tbsp. basil
- 5 walnuts / 7–8 almonds
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 1–2 tbsp. olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
5. Fruit + Nuts
A very easy, lazy man's healthy snack — an apple with a few almonds, or 2–3 slices of papaya with a few walnuts, or 2 oranges with a few pistachios. They're loaded with fibrous carbs, good fat and protein.
6. Sprouts chaat
Yummy, healthy and so filling! Take around 3–4 tbsp. of sprouts, add veggies like onion, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers and green chilli, and top with a little lime juice.
7. Unsalted popcorn with nuts
Late-night binge-watching generally makes us crave our classic — popcorn. Have a handful of unsalted, unflavoured popcorn with a few nuts (5–6 almonds, 5 walnuts, or 10–12 pistachios) to satisfy both physical and mental hunger.
Bottom line
When you crave your next snack, aim for whole food rather than highly processed, fattening snacks. Have a healthy combination of carbs, protein and good fat to keep you full for longer, keeping your taste buds in mind :)
Do let us know in the comments if you have more healthy options to add to this list!
