Let’s face it, when we’re constantly on the go we tend to grab the same old snacks that come pre-packaged and they can get pretty boring. That’s if we even have time to fuel up before class. Many of us skip over our pre-workout snacks all together, causing for low energy, grogginess and inability to learn to our fullest during class. We’ve come up with seven delicious, easy, and exciting snack ideas to munch on before hitting the gym!
Making your own protein bars is fast and easier than you’d think! Grab your blender and throw in dried fruit of your choice. Dates make for a great binder in this recipe, but you can choose any of the sticker dried fruit options that you like. Then, toss in a tablespoon of your your favorite protein powder, peanut butter or PB2 powder, and blend. If you find that your mixture is more crumbly than sticky, add more nut butter or mix your PB2 with water before blending. Consistency may change based on the dried fruits you pick. After you have your sticky protein blend, place the mixture onto wax paper, pound flat with your palms and cut into rectangles. Wrap these separately in wax paper to make for easy grab-and-go snacks before class!
- Apricot Almond Butter Nibs
Using your blender, combine almond butter, dried apricots and dried coconut. Place these ingredients on a piece of wax paper and cut into small ½ to 1 inch squares. Dip in melted dark chocolate and freeze. These small bites make for a refreshing and energizing snack before class!
Use two rice cakes and put jelly and almond butter between them to make a sandwich. It’s simple, delicious and a great source of protein. You can make this ahead of time and keep it in the fridge or in your bag without fear that it will get soggy like a regular sandwich would!
Are you a fan of granola? The same flavored, pre-packaged bars can get boring. Try making your own! Mix together 1 cup of oats, ½ cup of nut butter, ¾ cup of dried coconut flakes, ½ cup of flax seeds, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, ⅓ cup of chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and ⅓ cup of agave or honey. Then take small handfuls of the mixture and form into balls. Wrap these in wax paper and refrigerate for easy on-the-go snacking! Crunchy Edamame: Drizzle edamame with olive oil, salt, and parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and then let cool. Store these in an airtight container in your cabinet. Mix these with a handful of your favorite nuts for a salty and crunchy protein filled snack!
Slice a banana in half the long way. On the flat side of the halved banana, top with nut butter, a drizzle of honey and a crunchy treat like granola or nuts. Add pomegranate seeds or raisins for extra flavor!
Use a blender to create a smoothie out of protein powder, almond milk, nut butter and banana. Once this mixture is combined pour into ice pop molds. Freeze overnight. Once frozen, dip these ice pops into melted dark chocolate and drizzle with nut butter, fruit, nuts, etc. Put the pops back into the freezer and eat before classes for a cold treat!
