Friday, November 30, 2018

5 Quick and Easy Snack Ideas

Photo by Charles "Duck" Unitas on Unsplash
Feeling the munchies coming on? Thanks to many modern cafes and bakeries, we are so spoiled for choice when it comes to our culinary options that even our snack choices are extensive! From the pastries that are perfectly paired with coffee to timeless classic movie snacks with a modern spin to the homey delights you can buy and customize for pocket change - here are five quick and easy snack ideas to satiate your cravings.

1. The Ever-Versatile Bagel

Whether you fancy something sweet, something savory or cannot seem to make up your mind, you will always win with a freshly baked bagel. Take your pick from various seed toppings and you can enjoy your doughy delight as it is, with a spread or accompanied with your fillings of choice. Scout around for the best bagels in your area and no matter what your order, you will always be satisfied.

2. The Delectable Doughnut

Some enjoy them by the dozen; dusted in cinnamon while others indulge in more sumptuous doughnut varieties that are iced, glazed and sprinkled excessively and some like them hot and oozing with jam. These inexpensive sweet treats are timeless and easily acquired from your local bakery, or that trendy local cafe that may have even hopped on the cronut bandwagon.

3. The Humble Toastie

You can prepare this quick classic snack at home or even at work in just a few minutes. All you need is a sandwich press, bread and your fillings of choice. The traditional cheese toastie makes a great breakfast on-the-go item or savory late-morning snack. You can include tomato, sliced veggies, spinach or deli meats for a more substantial toastie or get creative with banana slices, Nutella, peanut butter or other conserves for a sweet one!

4. The Spiced Bowl of Popcorn

Try something a bit different; spice up the movie concession stand staple and sprinkle your popcorn with cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanillin or any spice of your choice. For richer flavors, you can melt toppings like honey, maple syrup or caramel and mix them into your popcorn before spicing. This delicious snack is ideal in large amounts, so cook as much as you want. If you somehow end up with leftovers, they can easily be packed as a light and tasty snack for school or work.

5. The Guilt-Free Protein Balls

The more fitness-conscious cousin of Christmas rum balls or truffles, these little bites are not hard at all to spot in your local supermarket or cafes. The beauty of creating your own protein balls or bliss balls is that they can be made from a very wide variety of ingredients. You simply need to choose a few base dry ingredients, with options including cocoa, any kind of nut flour or crushed nuts, protein powders, crushed biscuits, fruit chunks and more.

Then, you’ll need binding ingredients like peanut butter (or any other nut butter), oils, honey or maple syrup to help your protein balls hold their final form. Now, you can enjoy them as they are or finish them off with a delicious decorative top coat by rolling them around in desiccated coconut or sprinkles and these delightful snacks are ready to eat!

These are just some popular snack ideas to get your creative juices flowing and your appetite prepared. When in doubt, nothing beats a snack that you can customize to your heart’s desire, like a toastie or a fresh, authentic bagel with all your favorite fillings. Sometimes it’s best to trust our instincts.

So, what is your gut telling you?







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