If you love eating healthily but can't resist the odd indulgence (and who can?), I'm here with three easy recipes for nutritious and satisfying snacks that will keep you full until your next meal!
Healthy Snack #1: Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, checking they don't burn towards the end
5. Once cooked, leave to cool and enjoy!
Sea salt and black pepper for seasoning
That's it!
2. Cut your tortillas into six slices each, as if you're slicing a pizza
3. Lay the tortilla slices onto a baking tray and sprinkle them with salt and pepper (you can add other spices if you prefer a bit more taste)
4. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, turning once and adding more salt and pepper to the other side
5. When they're crispy, leave them to cool before munching away!
1 or 2 cloves garlic
Juice of half a lemon
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Large pinch of cumin
Small pinch of sea salt
Tahini (optional, but makes a more 'authentic' houmous)
2. Chop the garlic and add it to the chickpeas
3. Throw in the rest of the ingredients and blend to your desired consistency. If it's too thick, add a little water
4. Do a taste test to see if you need any more of a certain ingredient – if so, blend it in, if not, you're good to go!
5. Decant into a serving bowl and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of cumin or cayenne. Eat with vegetable sticks, tortilla chips or spread inside sandwiches and wraps instead of mayonnaise.
Healthy Snack #1: Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
A
crunchy high-protein, high-fibre snack that can be eaten at any time
of day. Store in an airtight container for up to three days or
pop them in a resealable bag to take to work or school as a
nutritious mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
You
will need:
1
can chickpeas
Olive
oil or rapeseed oil
Spice
of your choice e.g. cumin, cayenne pepper
Method:
1.
Preheat the oven to 400F/200C/gas mark 6
2.
Drain the chickpeas and dry them with a paper towel
3.
In a bowl, toss the chickpeas with oil and then your choice of spices
(if you don't like spicy food or just want them plain, season with a
pinch of sea salt and black pepper)4. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, checking they don't burn towards the end
5. Once cooked, leave to cool and enjoy!
Healthy Snack #2: Baked
Tortilla Chips
Much
better for you than a bag of Doritos and very moreish, these are the
perfect guilt-free snack for when you're trying to be healthy but
craving junk food. Can also be stored in an airtight container for
three days and transported anywhere.
You
will need:
1
pack wholegrain tortilla wraps (small ones are better)Sea salt and black pepper for seasoning
That's it!
Method:
1.
Preheat the oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 42. Cut your tortillas into six slices each, as if you're slicing a pizza
3. Lay the tortilla slices onto a baking tray and sprinkle them with salt and pepper (you can add other spices if you prefer a bit more taste)
4. Bake for approximately 15 minutes, turning once and adding more salt and pepper to the other side
5. When they're crispy, leave them to cool before munching away!
If
you want something to dip your chips in, why not try...
Healthy Snack #3: Homemade
Houmous (Hummus)
Full
of the taste of store-bought houmous, but with none of the nasty
chemicals and preservatives...so it's even better for you. Store in an
airtight container the fridge for 2-3 days.
You
will need:
1
can chickpeas1 or 2 cloves garlic
Juice of half a lemon
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Large pinch of cumin
Small pinch of sea salt
Tahini (optional, but makes a more 'authentic' houmous)
Method:
1.
Drain the chickpeas and put them into your blender2. Chop the garlic and add it to the chickpeas
3. Throw in the rest of the ingredients and blend to your desired consistency. If it's too thick, add a little water
4. Do a taste test to see if you need any more of a certain ingredient – if so, blend it in, if not, you're good to go!
5. Decant into a serving bowl and drizzle with olive oil and a sprinkle of cumin or cayenne. Eat with vegetable sticks, tortilla chips or spread inside sandwiches and wraps instead of mayonnaise.
If
you make any of these recipes, I'd love to see them. Send me a pic on
Twitter (@nicshealthylife) with the hashtag #NicsKitchen and I'll RT them all.
Bon appetit!