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Say No to Junk Food and Yes to Healthy Snacks!
Although we eat three meals in a day but we still tend to get hungry in between and reach out for snacks. Sudden hunger pangs can force you to pick junk, fried and sugary good like chips, fried peanuts, a samosa, biscuits or chocolates; they make you feel better but lead to weight gain. These foods are high in fat and sugar and believe me they are a temporary fix and make you crave for more.
Benefits of Healthy Snacking
Snacking is necessary during the day because it gives you the energy you need during the day before you can have a full meal. Some of the health benefits of snacking are:
- They help you focus, reduce stress, and gives you energy. Many studies have shown that having snacks between meals improves your mental acuity and overall performance.
- Snacking helps in controlling weight. If you wait for the last minute to eat when hungry you are more likely to eat an unhealthy snack therefore eating every 3 hours will help you avoid junk foods. It will help you focus and prevent the urge to binge eating. Eating at regular intervals also boosts your metabolism and digestion which controls weight gain.
- The blood sugar levels drop after 3 to 5 hours of your meal therefore eating low-fat dairy products, nuts, and whole grains gives your proper nutrition and keeps you satisfied for a long time. Regular snacks curb cravings for sugary food as well.
- People tend to eat when they are stressed or in a bad mood. Some foods give you a rush but crash very quickly and some provide slow and consistent energy to keep you happy and alert. When you eat fat-laden food you get a jolt of energy which subsides quickly and leaves you cranky. Eating healthy snacks give you the needed energy and maintain your mood. You'll be a happier person after eating a healthy snack.
Snacks to Avoid
If you love to snack during the day you are doing good for your health but it is important to know which foods to avoid to stay healthy.
- Fast foods are easy to get and easy to make, one of the most favorite snacks is French fries especially among kids. French fries are loaded with unhealthy trans fats and calories and since they taste good you tend to eat a bunch of them at ones. Stay away from them as much as you can as they may give you energy for the time being but will leave you craving for more and weight gain.
- Cereals are good for your health but sugar cereals are low on fibre and high on sugar. If you like eating cereals you should look for the ones with less than 10 grams of sugar and at least three grams of fibre in it to stay healthy.
- It is next to impossible to not eat a pastry or a biscuit when hungry but they have no fibre or minerals in it. They are loaded with calories, therefore, avoid keeping them in your fridge to help you focus more on healthy snacks.
- Pretzels are low fat and are made with less sodium which makes people think that they are healthy but they are processed in a way that you don't get the nutrition you need from them. They are made with white flour which digests too quickly which is almost like eating a sugary snack. Avoid eating them as well as other processed foods for snacks.
- Soy milk is probably the most healthy milk you can have but if you are reaching out for flavored soy milk then you are causing harm to yourself. There is tons of sugar and calories in flavored soy milk, therefore, chose unsweetened and plain milk during the day to stay fit and full.
- Fruit juices sound healthy but when you squeeze out the juice from a fruit you get rid of all the fiber it has to offer and end up taking the same amount of sugar and calories as a soft drink. Better to eat fruits than having a glass of fruit juice
8 Healthy Evening Snacks Ideas
Here is a list of some tasty, healthy snacks you can have in the evening before your dinner. They are easy to make and provide you the necessary energy you need before you can start cooking your last meal of the day.
Fruit Smoothies
Smoothies are tasty and very easy to make. You can make them with simple ingredients and everybody loves them. Server them in the evening and keep your family happy and healthy. You can try making a smoothie with fruits like banana, orange, strawberry, pineapple, berries etc with yogurt to enhance its flavors.
Ingredients
- 1 cup fruit juice
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 2 cups frozen fruit
- 1 small banana(optional)
Method
- Take all the ingredients and put them in a blender.
- Blend it on high speed
- You can add some fruit juice and ice in it if you want
- Serve them chilled
Peanut Chaat
Eating peanuts for snacks is a good idea because they are loaded with healthy fats, protein, and fibre. They also have a good amount of potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, and B vitamins in them. They are a little high on calories but are nutrient-rich and low in carbohydrates. Eat peanuts in moderation and you will feel full for a long time. Here is how you can make a delicious peanut chat to have with evening tea with your family.
Ingredients
- ½ small onion
- 2 medium tomatoes
- ½ - 1 mild red chilli pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro (coriander)
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 1.5-2 tbsp lemon juice to taste (around half a lemon)
- 1 tsp chaat masala powder
Method
- Chop onions, tomatoes, coriander, and chilli pepper
- Toss them in a bowl with peanuts
- Squeeze lemon juice and mix well
- Sprinkle chaat masala and mix again
- Serve with a hot cup of coffee or tea
Yoghurt/Curd Sandwich
Sandwiches are all-time favorite snacks and you can whip up one in just a few minutes. The yogurt sandwich is a healthy snack made with fresh vegetables and has around 200 calories. It contains fibre and protein as well as a good amount of calcium, Vitamin A, C, and iron. Here is how you can make one as an evening snack.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup thick curd / hung curd / yogurt
- ¼ cup mayonnaise, eggless
- ½ tsp pepper powder
- ¼ cup carrot, finely chopped
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup cabbage, finely chopped
- ¼ cup capsicum, finely chopped
- ½ tsp ginger, finely chopped
- ¼ cup corn
- 6 slices bread white / wholegrain
- 2 tsp butter
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
Method
- Take hung curd or thick curd in a bowl (you can add mayonnaise if you like to it
- Add crushed pepper in it
- Add finely chopped vegetables of you choice, mix well and keep it aside
- Take bread and cut the edges of them
- Spread the mixture in between two slices of bread
- Heat the tawa or sandwich maker and put some butter over it
- Sprinkle some sesame seeds and place the sandwich over it
- Cut it in half and serve it hot with tomato ketchup or mint chutney with tea or a smoothie
Instant Khaman Dhokla
This is one of the most popular Gujarati snack made from fermented chickpea and rice batter. It is a light and healthy snack which only has around 283 calories. It is also loaded with iron, magnesium, and calcium.
Ingredients
- 2 cups besan / gram flour
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp green chillies
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp fruit salt / baking soda
- a pinch of turmeric
- 1 cup water
Tempering
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 2 chillies , halved (optional)
- 8 curry leaves
Garnishing
- 1 tbsp grated coconut (optional)
- cilantro, chopped
Method
- Put flour, lemon juice, ginger, green chillies, oil, salt, sugar, and water in a bowl and mix it into a smooth batter.
- Add fruit salt or baking soda to it and whisk until it gets bubbly
- Grease the mold and pour the batter in it. You can use a pressure cooker to steam it or bake it in the microwave.
- Remove it from the mould and heat oil in a small pot.
- Add the tempering ingredients in it and pour it over the dhokla
- Let it cool for 10 minutes and garnish with cilantro or shredded coconut
- Cut in pieces and serve warm with mint chutney.
Besan Chilla
If you are a vegetarian you will love this evening snack. It is a popular chickpea flour-based snack that looks a lot like an omelet. It is super healthy and a yummy treat for all.
Ingredients
- 1 cup besan / gram flour / kadle hittu
- ¼ tsp turmeric / haldi
- ¼ tsp caraway seeds
- salt to taste
- ½ cup water, or as required
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves, finely chopped
- ½ tomato, finely chopped
- 1 inch ginger, finely chopped
- 1 green chilli, finely chopped
- 5 tsp oil, for roasting
Method
- Take one cup besan in a large bowl
- Add turmeric, ajwain, salt, and water to it and mix to create a batter
- Let it rest for 30 minutes
- Add onion, tomato, coriander, ginger and green chilli to it and mix well
- Take a ladleful of the batter and spread on a heated Tawa
- Pour oil over it and cook on medium flame
- Flip and cook on both sides serve with green chutney
A Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Your hungry and don't want to spend to much time in making a snack then try making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Peanut butter is a natural source of tryptophan which helps you sleep better. This is a great evening or bedtime snack for people of all ages.
Ingredients
- 2 slices - bread
- 1 tbsp - jam
- 1/2 tbsp - peanut butter
Method
- Spread a generous amount of jam on one side of bread.
- Spread peanut butter on the other slice and put them together. You're done
Egg Chaat
Eggs are a great source of protein and tryptophan and tasty like hell. Try making this delicious egg chaat for your family in the evening and watch them gobble it down.
Ingredients
- 3 boiled eggs
- 1 Tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tsp tomato chilli sauce
- 3 tsp tamarind extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp roasted cumin
- Salt to taste
- 1 green chilly
- 1 chopped spring onion
- 2-3 Tbsp boondi
Method
- Take tomato ketchup, tomato chilli sauce, tamarind extract, lemon juice, roasted cumin, green chili and salt in a bowl
- Boil eggs and cut them into two
- Spread the chutney over it and sprinkle chopped spring onions, garam masala, and boondi over it.
- Serve warm.
Poha
Poha is probably the easiest snack you can make for breakfast or for evening tea. They are light and healthy and keep you feeling full for a long time. There are many different variations of poha but this one is quite easy to make.
Ingredients
- one cup poha
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- few mustard seeds
- 1/2 cup peanuts
- medium onion chopped
- 2 green chillies
- handful of curry leaves
- 1/2 cup green peas
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbs oil
Method
- Put poha in a strainer and run it under water till it turns soft. Press it between two fingers to see if it breaks easily
- Add turmeric and salt in it and toss it well
- Heat oil in a pan and add mustard oil, wait till it pops and add peanuts in it. Cook till it turns brown
- Now, add chopped onion, green chilly and curry leaves to the oil and cook until onions soften up
- Add green beans and cook till they are done
- Now add the rinsed poha to it and toss well. You can sprinkle some water and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add sugar and cilantro, cover the pan with a lid and turn heat to low then turn it off
- Serve hot with tea
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Follow Your Intuition
Even though the recipes listed above need to be followed to the T, but feel free to experiment and cook your own take on these dishes and take them a notch higher. Also, make sure that you taste not only the different elements of the dish while you are cooking, but also do taste your dish as a whole with all the accompaniments.