Pages

3 healthy snacks for winter fuel

We get hungrier than ever when it's cold outside, and we want to reach for breads, pastas and pies - but spare a thought for your mind and body as you wolf down carbohydrates. We do need more fat in the winter, but it can be good fat!

I've discovered some snacks that fight fatigue, keep the body's fuel gauge high and lower the risk of heart disease.
 Munchy Seeds
How can you fight the winter blues, ward off a cold, boost your serotonin levels and fill your body with iron and protein all at the same time? With Munchy Seeds pumpkin seeds.

Now I know those big and burly amongst you may scoff at the idea of a few pumpkin seeds replacing a more meaty snack, but a handful of pumpkin seeds contains 92% of your daily magnesium - crucial for muscle development - so would be good for sporty types.

Pumpkins seeds are high in vitamins and are used to treat bladder and prostate cancer too, for more info, click here
  • Pumpkin seeds, mixed with sunflower seeds and lightly toasted with a hint of chilli make a heartwarming, zinc infused, appetite filling snack any time of the day
Munchy seeds have combined several seeds and flavours to give you a spicy kick, a sweet treat or a sprinkle to flavour your soups and smoothies

Nakd Cashew Cookie

How on earth the people at Natural Balance Foods manage to make cashew nuts and dates - yes cashew nuts (51%) and date (49%) - taste so good, so soft, so chewy, so moist I'll never know. There is no other ingredient so I suspect clever Welsh jiggerypokery with weight, rations, standing or mixing time.

What makes them so filling and nutritious?
Cashews (which are seeds, not nuts) are also known as nature's vitamin pill and contain:
  • 5g of protein per Oz
  • High levels of essential minerals iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper and manganese
  • 'Good fat' (12g per Oz: 2g saturated fat) - essential for winter fuel 
  • Fatty acids that contribute to lower risks of heart disease (phytosterols, tocopherols (vit E)
  • NO cholesterol - which helps lower heart disease
  • For more nutritional benefits of cashews, click here
Dates are:
  • High in fibre
  • High in essential minerals -  calcium, sulphur, potassium, iron, phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium - all that in one date!
  • Excellent if you want to develop your muscles
  • For more nutritional benefits of dates, click here
Both foods are superb in winter, either on their own or blended into the healthy snack bar, they fill you up, fatten you up, beef up your muscles yet keep your digestive system running and your cholesterol down. 

Bio Energy Balls
Energy balls are made with 100% raw organic ingredients and taste good - but the nutty ones are perfect for winter as they have all the extra good fats needed to fight off the chill while filling you up with fibre, minerals and protein.

The goodness comes in the form of hazelnuts, almonds, dates, sultanas, sunflower seeds, rich in:
  • Vitamins A, B, C, D, calcium, iron, potassium
  • Contain just under 10g of protein per pack

Sun dried fruit means the nutrients - vitamins, carbs and fibre - are maintained in concentrated form and uphold their nutritional value. Add to this the distinctive chopping method and you get large piece of fruit or nut as opposed to a blended mix - so it feels more feeling. Energy Balls come in packs of three so they're great for nibbling and sustaining you through the day - and to satisfy the sweet toothed amongst us, they are sprinkled with coconut.

Whichever way you want to get through the winter, make sure you're looking after your health, fighting off colds, maintaining low cholesterol and warding off heart disease by eating healthy snacks.

If you like this, you may like 5 of the best Sorts & Energy bars