How much do you look forward to that one time of the month Aunt Flo comes knocking on the basement door? There’s nothing better than crying over nothing, breaking out like you’re in the 7th grade and feeling more tired than you did at the end of midterm week. Regardless of how hard you hit the gym last week, your cravings are strong enough rip a tornado through every snack cabinet in your apartment, leaving you feeling even more bloated an depressed than that time you rebounded with Ben & Jerry after your high school crush asked your best friend to prom. Since I’m a firm believer that there’s an appropriate snack for every occasion, I’ve compiled a list of treats for you and your girlfriends to eat for the next time that you’re all riding the crimson wave and crying over The Notebook!
Salty:
We know that reaching for the bag of Doritos will lead to regret and hitting the drive through for a large fry will undoubtedly come with a side of guilt but it never stopped us before! We have our periods damn it, and denying ourselves of our favorite salty snack will most definitely result in emotional instability that leads consequences such as a late night visit to see out boy Ronald with a bag of Cooler Ranch in the passenger and an hour long parking lot vent session with our BFF Taylor Swift. Next time the cravings start coming, opt for something equally salty, but much healthier!
Nothing beats popcorn and a movie! Try to avoid purchasing the “Movie Theatre Butter” versions and stick to the following list for healthy movie munching!
1. Jolly Time Healthy Pop- comes in 100 calorie bags with flavors like butter, kettle corn, and caramel apple!
2. Newman’s Own- 94% fat free versions are available from the Purely Delicious line!
3. Orville Redenbaucher’s- Smart Pop! is the best choice from Orville, my personal favorite is the 100 calorie Kettle Korn bags!
Synder’s Sourdough pretzels are giant, salty and filling- perfect for a quick salty fix and healthier than a bag of potato chips!
Oven Baked Sweet Fries:
You’ll need:
3 sweet potatoes (you can really do this with any potato variety)
Vegetable cooking spray
Salt
Ketchup
Preheat your oven to 475º F. Cut the taters into ½ inch strips or leave thicker depending on your preference. Lightly spray a baking pan with vegetable spray and lay potatoes in a single layer. Coat the potatoes with an additional layer of cooking spray and bake for 15-20 minutes. Turn them over and bake on the other side for an additional 15-20 minutes or until they are brown and crispy. Let cool, salt lightly and enjoy with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce!
Sweet:
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that’s somewhat healthy to eat, look no further. Here’s some yummy snacks that are sure to quiet that sweet tooth and ease your Pissy Mood Syndrome.
Peanut Butter Banana Whole-Wheat Toast is a super snack for PMS sufferers. The magnesium in peanuts cuts through fatigue and the fiber in whole wheat toast keeps um…things moving? Bananas contain tons of potassium which is a know bloat-buster!
Vitamin Water Zero- Ironically, the best way to banish water retention is to drink more of it! But lets get real, water is pretty boring so pick up a tasty drink that’s low in calories and made mostly of water for a yummier way to increase your fluid intake!
Mouse-Cream Cones:
You’ll Need:
1 Ice Cream Cone
2 tbsp. Hersey’s Chocolate Syrup
1 Sugar-Free Pudding cup (pick your favorite flavor!)
½ cup Cool-Whip Free
Grab your ice cream cone and swirl 2 tbsp of chocolate syrup around on the inside until it is coated with chocolate. Place this is the freezer immediately so that chocolate can set. In a small bowl, mix together your favorite kind of pudding and the cool whip until well blended. Place in the freezer for about 45 minutes to an hour. When time is up, remove both the cone and pudding mixture and scoop like you would ice cream!
Enjoy your treats along with your regularly scheduled healthy diet and don’t let your PMS get the best of you! Eating a healthy diet and following a regular exercise program will aid in keeping those raging hormones under control and hopefully make you a lot more pleasant to be around the next time Aunt Flo comes a knockin’!