6 Healthy (& Easy) Snacks to Have on Hand over Christmas

Homemade smoothie: Blend 100ms of milk, 2 tbsp natural yoghurt, 1 banana, 150 grams of frozen fruits, 50 grams of blueberries, 1 tbsp chia seeds, ½ tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp goji berries and 1 tsp of honey).  

Homemade veg and lentil soup: Low boil onion, carrots and celery with enough stock to cover the vegetables. Separately, cook red lentils with another stock cube for 10-15 minutes on a low boil. Next, blend everything together, add half a cup of milk (or a few tablespoons of cream). 

Celery sticks: with peanut or almond butter spread inside (surprisingly tasty & filling!). 

Homemade hummus with carrot sticks: Drain 1 can of chickpeas in a sieve (making sure to collect the liquid) and then tip into a food processor, along with 1 tbsp tahini paste, 2 garlic cloves (peeled and chopped) and 3 tbsp Greek yoghurt. Blend, using the leftover chickpea liquid to reach the right consistency. Next, add a good squeeze of lemon juice, blend and refrigerate. 

Homemade pesto with wholemeal pasta: Heat a small frying pan over a low heat. Cook 50 g of pine nuts until golden, shaking occasionally. Put into a food processor with a small bunch of basil, 50 g parmesan, 150 ml of olive oil and 2 garlic cloves. Whizz until smooth, then season to taste. 

Home popped popcorn: Buying the kernels and popping them at home always tastes better, or else just have pre-packaged bags of your favourite brand at home.  

Olives: Treat yourself to the fancy ones in your local supermarket and buy 2-3 tubs so that you have a low-calorie snack on hand – olives are also full of healthy fats which signal to your brain that you are full, so they are a great option. Also, the evidence suggests that a mediterranean diet, which is full of these types of healthy fats, could play a role in helping to manage arthritis symptoms.  

A few squares of dark chocolate: Eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or above) can deliver a host of antioxidants and minerals that are good for your health. One of the best things about this type of chocolate is that you are less likely to overindulge – most people find only 2-3 squares is enough to get the ‘hit’ they are looking for, whereas the same amount of milk chocolate often doesn’t suffice!