We all lead busy lifestyles nowadays, so quick and simple snacks that are nutritious and empower us to carry on with the demands of our daily activities are absolutely essential. There are many delicious snacks that can be made rapidly in raw form by ingeniously combining natural goodies, without worrying about having all the required ingredients or the exact quantities. After all, you’re mostly on the go, and you can’t compromise on either time or good nutrition. Just make the best of the natural ingredients that you have in your kitchen. And once you make them, give them some inventive names, so that they feel more like your own creations – your own brand of goodness.

Here is some inspiration to get you started – the exact amounts to use have deliberately been left loose, so they don’t look like standardised recipes, but instead you can feel free to experiment. Happy snacking!

Banana Sandwich

Amongst the world’s most energising foods, bananas are a key component of many raw diets, due to their consistency and nutritional values. High in potassium and iron, they help lower blood pressure and protect the body against anaemia. And out of all the fruits out there, bananas are the perfect partners to nuts.

So, here is an innovative “sandwich” that will enable you to enjoy them together in a way that unleashes their flavours. Cut the banana into half, spread almond or cashew nut butter in the middle and top up your filling with coconut flakes, cocoa nibs or cacao and cinnamon. This healthy sandwich is not only delicious, but will keep you fuller for longer.

If you don’t have any nut butters, then a good compromise to combining the two is by piercing the centre of the banana with brazils, almonds or cashews just as you eat it. In this way, you are upgrading your snack, as instead of just having a simple banana, you are enjoying banana-coated nuts. Quality snacking on the go.

Or if you fancy an ice-creamy dessert, simply freeze a peeled banana for a few hours. Once frozen, the banana will have the same texture as an ice-cream and its natural sweetness will come out. So, by eating it slowly, one small bite at a time, you can still enjoy it as a healthy alternative to a sugary ice-cream, even if you don’t have time to cut it into chuncks and put it in the blender.

‘Keep Me Going’ Blend

When you’re in a rush, you can still make a velvety smoothie by blending almond milk with a handful of dates and dried mulberries, a banana, a spoonful of nut butter and some vanilla powder. If you want to get fancy, sprinkle some baobab or lucuma powder for extra goodness and top it up with coconut flakes.

Make sure you use quality almond milk, ideally homemade (it’s really easy to make it by soaking a cup of blanched almonds overnight and then whizzing them in the blender with 3 cups of water – you don’t necessarily need to strain the milk after, you can still enjoy it with whole almond goodness and a thicker texture).

Juice Me Up, Slim Me Down

If you are in the need of a snack, but concerned about any extra calories, then make yourself a fat-burning grapefruit-based juice. Deemed to be a metabolism-boosting superfood, grapefruit is thought to lower the body’s insulin levels, thus preventing the body from storing sugar as fat and curbing appetite as well. So, blend a peeled grapefruit with a piece or two of dark chocolate, 4 watermelon slices and a handful of kale. The bitterness of the grapefruit and the dark chocolate will perfectly combine with the sweetness of the watermelon and you’ll even be getting in an extra dose of greens that we promise you won’t even notice! Nature’s goodness for a winning diet!

‘Make My day’ Breakfast Drink

Start the day with a homemade glorious breakfast in a bottle. Blend a cup of almond milk with a handful of oats, a few cashews and dried fruits such as mulberries, sultanas and pitted dates and top it up with some cacao, vanilla or superfood powder sprinkle and there you have it! A nutritious and delicious start to the day designed by you!

So, go on, embrace snacking and make your life and your diet happier! This type of healthy snacking can be enjoyed anytime of day and will leave you bursting with energy and vitality.

Words: Florinela Nedelcu 

Website: www.GloriouslyGood.com

Image: Pinterest

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