There’s something about the winter months that tend to make us hungrier than usual – whether it’s the cold weather, or our need to bulk up to stay warm, or if it’s just the comfort of eating something sweet with a piping hot cup of tea in the afternoon.
So, for those of you who get hit by the winter ‘snack attack’ at 3pm, but also want to stay healthy, we’ve put together a list of our top three healthy snacks for work… all packed full of antioxidant rich Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil (AEVOO).
Choc-bliss balls
For the sweet tooth you can’t go past these delicious chocolate bliss balls, made with healthy and antioxidant rich AEVOO, instead of Coconut Oil – which has recently been proven to be unhealthy for heart health.
For something a little different, why not add some dried coconut to the mix or roll them in coconut flakes instead of cacao?
Rosemary popcorn
While your average movie cinema popcorn can contain up to 1,200 calories and contains large amounts of saturated fat, home cooked popcorn is a surprisingly delicious and nutritious snack.
The great thing about popcorn is that it’s also really versatile, so you can easily season it to your taste.
This recipe from Cook for Your Life adds a Mediterranean twist to your everyday popcorn, with aromatic rosemary and delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) – just make sure you use fresh, certified, Australian EVOO to insure you get the full benefits of antioxidants and good monounsaturated fats.
Homemade hummus and carrot sticks
For a healthy and filling 3 o’clock snack you can’t go past vegetable sticks. They’re inexpensive and so easy to pack and store for snacks at work. Just cut up some carrots and celery into easy to eat portions and keep them on your desk to save the day… before you can even say “chocolate box”.
If you prefer a little more flavour, a homemade hummus is the ideal accompaniment for vegetable sticks.
We love this simple and easy hummus recipe with protein rich chickpeas and AEVOO forming the base. If you don’t have tahini on hand use fresh full fat Greek yogurt for a deliciously creamy alternative, or for those who like some extra spice just add extra garlic or chilli powder!
Feature image: Rosemary and AEVOO popcorn. Photo credit, Cook for Your Life.