The arrival of September brings with it many things that are easy to romanticize. There’s the inevitable start of classes, that definitive signal that summer is coming to a close. There’s a promise of cold in the air and a slight waning of excitement as we accustom ourselves to our school routines. Every morning we glance up at the trees, waiting for that first sign of red or yellow or orange. For me, September is the start of fall.
A lot harder to glamorize is the fact that September is the beginning of my being constantly hungry. I don’t think any of us can deny it. Sitting through hours of lecture or toiling through hours of lab, all the extra effort we’re putting in means we’re looking to put in more food, too. As Scientific American puts it: “thinking makes you hungry”.
This doesn’t mean we should go stuffing ourselves with double fudge cookies, cheesecake brownies, and devil’s chocolate cake, though they do sound appetizing. Research shows that activities much like those we perform when studying or paying attention in class only burns three more calories than sitting around relaxing for an equal amount of time. So it’s of the utmost importance that when we do snack, we snack healthy.
And since September brings with it cravings of those cozy flavours we associate with autumn, here are a few quick, easy, & healthy snack ideas that will be great for the fall time:
Dried cranberries & dark chocolate.
Something about dried fruit just reminds me of the colder months to come. Moderation is key when it comes to this high calorie snack, but it’ll be a lifesaver for those of us with back-to-back classes who may need a little pick-me-up in the third hour.
Peanut butter oat bars.
Peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup for a vegan alternative), uncooked oatmeal, with nuts, seeds (pumpkin seeds anyone?), and dried fruit if you want. These are super easy to make and can last you the whole week in the fridge. Wrap one up and take it to class for a high-protein snack. Add some cinnamon for a hint of spice!
Yogurt with maple syrup (optional chilled coffee).
We conveniently live in a provincerthat is the largest producer of maple syrup in the world! You can find the highest-grade most natural maple syrup at grocery stores, markets, and even deps. Yum! Use non-fat Greek yogurt to really keep this one healthy. Put it into a little Tupperware container, drizzle with that sweet, golden syrup, and take it to class with you. If you have some on hand, mix the yogurt with some cold coffee for a little boost.
Homemade trail mix. Whole grain cereal, dried fruit, and chopped nuts of your choice. Try to include all the colors of fall in this tasty, high fibre snack!
Happy snacking, ladies!
Sources:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=science-of-snacks-thinking-makes-you-hungry
Peanut butter oat bar recipe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13UZxQdf7sI
Yogurt with coffee and maple syrup recipe: http://foodiehunter.blogspot.ca/2012/02/maple-coffee-yogurt-with-spiced-pecans.html
Trail mix recipe: http://www.ivillage.com/10-super-snacks-you-can-make-under-5-minutes/4-b-212237#212251
Pictures:
http://foodiehunter.blogspot.ca/2012/02/maple-coffee-yogurt-with-spiced-pecans.html