Youth Incorporated Magazine

A busy study/work schedule often makes us ignore our health, and stress is a proven cause of binge eating. Ditch the chip bags and junk food for these healthy yet fulfilling snacks that are easy to make, and if you don’t want to put in the efforts, we’ve got a ready-to-eat healthy treat for you as well –

OAT BARS

Oat Bars are probably the most popular snacks to binge on if you’re trying to watch your weight. Although they’re more on the sweeter side, they certainly do count as healthy if you choose the right kind of ‘sweets’ to make this with. In a bowl, mix together some oats, melted dark chocolate (dark chocolate above 75% cocoa is healthy), a teaspoon of honey, a tablespoon of any organic nut butter, and a teaspoon of chia seeds. Spread the mixture in a flat tin lined with cling film, and refrigerate overnight. Take it out of the tin and cut into bars. You can also add date, nuts, etc depending on your taste, and the measurements can be adjusted to your liking.

AVOCADO TOAST

Full of nutrients and absolutely light on the tummy, avocado toasts make the perfect mid-day refuel, especially when you know your day is a long one. All you need is some toast, a fresh avocado, and a few spices that are surely in your pantry. Scoop the avocado from the skin and mash in a bowl. Add salt, pepper, chilli powder, and a pinch of sugar. Spread the mixture on toast, and top with grilled paneer, boiled, chicken, egg or any protein of your choice. Garnish with coriander or any herb you’d like, and a slight sprinkle of oregano. You can also use this for breakfast if you’ d like a burst of early morning freshness.

BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES

For any fries lover who just can’t seem to give up the indulgence, you’ll be ever grateful to us for this one. Preheat the oven to 425 degree F (218 degree C). Wash the sweet potatoes of any impurities, and pat dry. Slice the sweet potato into French fry-sized pieces, and place on a baking tray greased with nonstick spray. Drizzle over Olive Oil, salt, pepper and chopped parsley. Bake until golden brown, for 20-24 minutes. Let it cool down for 5 minutes after baking.

DIPSTERS

If you’re someone constantly on the move, who’d like some healthy goodness without the extra hassle, Dipsters’ range of healthy snacks is the way to go. Dipsters offer four exciting variants – Creamy Cheese Dip with Masala Ragi Chips, Cheesy Jalapeño Dip with Piri Piri Ragi Chips, Spicy Mayo dip with Jalapeño Ragi chips, and a Chocolate dip with Waffle chips. We thoroughly relished the Cheesy Jalapeño and Creamy Cheese dips, they were full of flavor and enough to get us through the rest of the day. If you’d prefer a sweeter option, the Chocolate dip with Waffle chips might just be your favourite, although we’re still debating if a chocolate dip counts as healthy!