Evening cravings are nothing new. It is the most threatening time for those who take the words like diet and fitness seriously. It is too late after the lunch but too early for the dinner and the stomach always yearns for something more. Something that caters to the taste buds and goes well with the coffee or your cup of tea. It is a dangerous territory and the very word “snack” is often at war with words such as as “healthy” and “nutritious”. But there is no need to panic. We are here to help exactly in such situations. This is why we are bringing you a few tasty ideas on the snacks for evening. Relish these healthy living tips for pleasant evenings that do not compromise with your health!
1. Roasted Almonds:
Well, who doesn’t like dry fruits? Almonds are among the healthiest of them. You can naturally find almonds online at Pure Mart. You can munch on them as it is but for better taste, you can roast them too. Keep them pre-soaked for a while and then add a bit of olive oil. Once they are evenly coated with oil, roast them lightly in an oven. Add a bit of salt as per you taste and you are good to go! You can sprinkle a spoon of honey on it too if you have a sweet tooth. Now why does it make a good snack? Simply because almonds are among the healthiest things you can eat. They are high in protein, mono-unsaturated fats, Vitamins A, B, E and K. It is also rich in minerals, especially calcium. Just go easy on the salt and do not overeat!
Bonus tip: Try some dried figs (also called anjeer) on the side. If you are unsure of where to get them, just buy dry figs online at Pure Mart.
2. Semolina Upma:
Surely you must have noticed that there is a “Rava” (semolina or sooji) version of everything in the South Indian restaurants. You can go for any one of them but we would suggest a good bowl of Rava Upma that you can prepare at home. Just add some vegetables, nuts and organic spices (find them easily here) according your taste to the roasted semolina and boil the concoction mildly in water. Add a bit of sea salt. Some people also add sugar but since we are talking about healthy snacks, try and skip too much added sugar. Why is it good? Because it takes time to digest and thus prevents you from overrating. It is also high in E and B group of vitamins and the potassium content is supposed to be good for your kidneys.
Guacamole Sandwiches:
Sandwiches are commonplace and we do not have to tell you how to make them. But for best results, avoid the cheese and replace the white bread with brown versions. Also avoid the ketchup or any other preservative and add some green vegetables as well as tomatoes on top. More importantly get some ripe avocados and make your own guacamole and spread it over the slices. Guacamole is fibre rich as well as high on mono-unsaturated fats and Vitamin C. It is known to be good for your blood sugar levels as well as cholesterol.
Flattened Rice:
Poha (flattened rice) is a popular snack all over central and western India while in the east it is consumed plainly with milk or curd. For a good snack you can just soak it for a while and then fry it lightly by adding some vegetables and nuts. It is an excellent option for the health conscious working professionals because it is rich in iron and low on gluten. It also helps you in maintaining blood sugar levels. The only thing you need to be careful about is to choose the right type of ingredients, made of unpolished rice with a reddish brown coating which retains the maximum nutrients!
Remember, you often become what you eat. So, it's always good to choose well.
Do let me know which healthy snacks you're trying to cook today evening! We wish you a great, healthy life :-)
