I bet you feel it already. Autumn is here and there is something that makes you want to surround yourself with blankets, have your hands warmed by the tea mug, read a book or watch a movie and maybe have a bite of some tasty snack while celebrating that summer is over and there won't be any more beach pictures from everyone online until January when the #tbt hits us.
It's all about creating the moment. Being cosy, warm and comfortable at home on a rainy day. And with a healthy snack you won't feel guilty for your diet.
Here are 5 snacks to try this fall that are both tasty and healthy for you.
1. Honey roasted butternut squash
This is the real taste of autumn. It's as healthy as it can be and it goes really well with peppermint tea. Or at least I really like it.
Ingredients:
1 butternut squash
Honey
Handful of walnuts
Method:
1. Cut the butternut squash in pieces and remove seeds.
2. Put in a pot of boiling water (an inch full) with the skin up for 5 minutes.
3. Place on a baking tray with skin down, add a squeeze of honey and sprinkle chopped walnuts on top.
4. Bake for 30 minutes on 180°C.
2. Apple cinnamon chips
Apple and cinnamon is like movies and popcorn. They always go together. Always. Together. If you like crispy snacks, you should definitely give this one a try.
Ingredients:
3 large apples
4-5 tbsp cinnamon
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 100°C.
2. Wash and slice 3 large apples to slices no more than 0.5cm thick.
3. Place the slices in single layer on the baking tray. Be careful not to overlap them. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top and put them back in the oven.
4. Bake for 1 hour on the highest rack, then bake for 1 hour on the lowest rack. Check when they start to become crispy. Once they are ready turn off the oven and leave the tray there for another hour.
3. Oven-roasted chickpeas
Here is a snack high in protein content. And soooo crunchy... One of my favourite not only for the autumn but for any other season as well.
Ingredients:
2 cans of chickpeas drained and rinsed
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the chickpeas evenly on a sheet of baking paper on the baking tray.
2. Roast the chickpeas for an hour to hour and a half until they become crunchy.
3. Add all spices and the olive oil and mix well. Roast for another 10 minutes.
4. Protein energy bars
You. Have. To. Try. It. Perfect as a pre-workout or post-workout snack.
Ingredients:
150g honey
150g smooth peanut butter
150g oats
50g chocolate flavoured protein powder
35g pumpkin seeds
Method:
1. Heat the honey and peanut butter in a non sticking pan until they mix well.
2. Add the oats, then the protein powder, then the pumpkin seeds. Mix well.
3. Place the mixture flat on a tray and cut the bars in any shape you want.
4. Cool 30 minutes in the fridge. Preferably store them in the fridge.
5. Vegan nuts and dates energy bites
Perfect if you have friends over for coffee as these bites go really well with it. Ingredients: 50g raw almonds and hazelnuts
1.5 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 cup oats
12 dates
1/2 cup coconut flakes
50 ml coconut milk or other non-dairy milk (add only if the consistency becomes too dense)
Method:
1. Add all ingredients into a blender and mix well.
2. Shape in balls about 1 inch in diameter.
3. Place on a tray and cool in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Which one did you like most?