Almost to the weekend! I can’t wait for Saturday because a couple of my friends and I are planning a “girls” afternoon of shopping while our significant others babysit the kids. It should be another fun-filled weekend with friends!
Before going into Thursday Tidbits, I’m so excited that Keenan slept through the night last night (he didn’t the night before last), as well as slept in until 8:00 this morning! I couldn’t believe it! Since the time change on Sunday and when our friends left, Keenan has been having a hard time adjusting. The past few nights has taken him at least 35-45 minutes to fall asleep, in addition to waking up early around 6:30 a.m. and taking at least 30 minutes to fall sleep for his nap. Prior to that, he was going to sleep around 7:30 (a little later when our friends were here), but sleeping until at least 7:00 a.m., so I really think Daylight Savings has affected his sleep patterns. I’m hoping after a couple more days, he will back on track with his normal sleep habits (again, crossing my fingers that he doesn’t wake up at night!).
A quick photo before dinner last night at Keenan’s request!
Okay, enough about sleep (though, you can certainly tell what is on my mind these days!), and time for our weekly Thursday Tidbits! If you are new here, Thursday Tidbits it is a weekly post featuring anything health, fitness and wellness related.
A friend of mine asked me about healthy snack ideas for herself and her kids the other day, so I thought it would be a good topic for today. Healthy snacks are great to have on hand when hunger strikes, so you aren’t tempted to reach for junk or fast food. When I have a snack, I aim to eat something with a little bit of protein and fiber, as well as keeping the calories at 150 or less as much as possible. Before working out, I try to have something with a little bit more protein and some carbs, such as a half of a banana and almond butter. For me, the banana and nut butter combo give me just enough energy and nutrition to fuel my workout.
Healthy snack ideas less than 200 calories (even for those following a Paleo or gluten-free lifestyle):
– 1/4 cup of roasted almonds or mixed unsalted nuts
– Keenan’s favorite: Homemade trail mix of roasted almonds or walnuts, dried fruit of your choice, banana chips and dark chocolate chips (highest cacao possible)
– Hard-boiled eggs
– Baby carrots with 2 tablespoons of hummus or homemade tzatziki sauce (2 Tbs Greek yogurt mixed with a splash of lemon juice, garlic and Italian seasoning)
– Half of a banana with a tablespoon of almond butter or peanut butter (for toddlers, slice banana and put a dab of nut butter on each piece as a fun way to eat it!)
– Paleo Chocolate Chip (or raisin) Protein Cookies
So yummy!
– A piece of fruit, i.e, apple, orange, peach, nectarine, pear, etc. with 12 almonds
– An apple with a tablespoon of nut butter of your choice
– Two Turkey rolls (a slice of turkey rolled up with some avocado inside) or just a slice of turkey with some fruit
This is also one of my favorite lunches by adding an additional roll and having carrots and cherry tomatoes on the side.
– 1 ounce of cheese with a piece of fruit
– 1/2 cup of yogurt with some berries and a tablespoon of slivered almonds or chopped walnuts
– Trader Joe’s Fiberfull Fruit leathers (Keenan LOVES these!)
– GoGo SqueeZ Apple sauce pouches (another Keenan favorite!)
– Low-sodium turkey jerky (Costco has some that is pretty good)
A tasty 100 calorie snack!
– Half of a CORE Foods Defender or Warrior Bar
Since the bars contain 350 calories, eating half of one is the perfect size snack.
– Leftover oven-baked sweet potato fries (3-4) with one small slice of turkey (one of my favorite snacks when we are home!)
Before I forget, here is another home workout idea, CrossFit Home or Travel WOD #6!
Well, that’s a wrap for today!
Questions:
– What is your favorite snack?
– When do you snack, i.e. mid-morning, afternoon or bedtime? I usually have only one small snack in the afternoon before CrossFit.
Great ideas for healthy snacks! We too enjoy most of those snacks especially carrots, apples, bananas and nut butter! We are a little nut butter obsessed over here 🙂 I just tried the Chia bars the other day and love them! I’m going to have to order some more!
We are a little obsessed with nut butter, too! Keenan asks for a “taste,” (more like a spoon full) of almond butter every morning before breakfast, as a little snack!
I do the “fruit and 12 almonds” almost every day. I pack an apple and almonds or pistachios for my afternoon snack at work. So delicious and satisfying. And healthy!! 🙂 Hard boiled eggs are a great idea…..I love them but never keep them on hand for some reason. I need to change that. 🙂
I have been trying to remember to hard boil a dozen eggs every Sunday, so we have them for snacks and meals the entire week, but the past couple of weeks I have completely forget. I need to get back to doing that, too!
Oh gosh thats the best idea! Shop while the husbands take care of the kids…love it!
YAY Chia bars! Did you like it?
Yes, I’m SO excited for tomorrow! I have gift cards from Christmas and my birthday that I haven’t had a chance to use, so it will be nice to have a day of shopping with no kids! I love the Chia bars!
These are great healthy snack ideas! I love carrot with hummus and those health warrior bars are wonderful!
Yes, me too! I can just snack on baby carrots all day long!