by Annie Vischer
A 9-5 office job is a catalyst for snacking. An early start makes a constant supply of coffee a must for most, and mid-morning slumps can easily result a chocolate fix or office run for crisps.
Well we’re here to tell you to step away from the Monster Munch! There are a whole host of healthy nutritious snacks out there to keep your energy levels up and your healthy halo firmly in place.
Miso Tasty Soup (£2.00) is a new take on the at-home miso soup that retains the freshness of the restaurant prepared version. Squeeze the paste out into a mug, add hot water and mix in the dried wakame and spring onions for an instant warmer on those drizzly days inside.
We’re very lucky here at Beauty And The Dirt. We have a lunch break wonder at our fingertips, and it’s called Psycle. And quite apart from the classes being rather brilliant (read our review here), they also house some nifty little snacks from The Detox Kitchen that we can take away post-class. We love the Chia Protein Balls, made from Chia seeds, dates, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, coconut, flaxseed and hemp powder.
If you’re not near enough to a source of The Detox Kitchen goodness, then why not try making them yourself? Stick to their ingredient list or experiment with other ingredients such as prunes, crystalised ginger, linseeds, or ground almonds. Whizz up in a mini blender, adding a little water if the mixture is too stiff. Shape into golf-sized balls before rolling in a mixture of Chia seeds and dessicated coconut. Pop in the fridge and enjoy! And yes, the Beauty And The Dirt team have become rather adept and producing these little beauties.
And speaking of Chia seeds? They’ve become the must-eat seed recently. They are an incredible source of omega 2, dietary fibre and protein. The glowing likes of Miranda Kerr and Gwyneth Paltrow have gone crazy for them. Soaking them in almond milk, rice milk or yoghurt makes the nutrients in them easier to digest.
We add them to our smoothies, try whizzing up some unsweetened almond milk with ice, chia seeds, and a scoop of Bodyism’s Body Brilliance (£50.00) for an iced shake with a health kick.
If you’re a chocolate addict, and are loathe to relinquish that coco-infused fix, then we have the perfect solution. If you haven’t heard us rave about Coyo before then you’re going to need a quick introduction. It’s a creamy yoghurt made from coconut milk that’s free of lactose and milk protein. A whole coconut goes into a pot of Coyo and all ingredients are natural. Their Coyo Raw Chocolate Yoghurt (£1.99) variety contains cacao, one of the most unprocessed forms of chocolate their is. Eat and savour on its own, or add to smoothies and shakes.
And the coconut trend doesn’t stop with Coyo! Vita Coco have caused a storm in the past year or so with their supply of coconut water and they’ve branched out this month with a brand new flavour. Meet Vita Coco Lemonade (£1.69), made with pure lemon puree and coconut water. It’s packed with electrolytes, so cleanses whilst it hydrates.