So it's that time of year again... the air has become cool at night, the floors are chilly as our warm feet hit them at 7am. Kids return to school, students begin a new semester, and adults return to the grind, the 9-5 grind that is! Over the last few days it's been more than evident summer is coming to a halt (tear), and fall is around the corner. That also means we're getting back on schedule, recovering from the last few weeks of indulgences (the beer won't drink itself right?!) and perhaps focusing again on our health. This means prep and organization, namely, packing and planning snacks for work or school to keep us healthy and energized as we get back into the swing of things. 

 I'm definitely a snack girl, I like eating regularly throughout the day, it keeps me going, improves my metabolism and prevents me from getting too hungry that I make bad, impulsive decisions. My theory with snacks is to try and have them handy, make them portable, and of course make them good for you! 

That being said, let's browse some school, work and commuting snack options. 

First up, yep you guessed it, fresh fruit and pre-cut veggies with delicious dips like hummus or baba ganoush. Fruit is a fantastic travel buddy, it literally requires no prep work, it's grab and go, and never fails to meet your nutrient needs. So my friends, find a fabulous fruit bowl and load that sucker up, buy a banana hammock, and hammock your bananas, and of course, make it visible on the counter, if you see it you'll eat it! 
Always keep hummus on hand, hummus is my no fail snack option. It can even become a meal if I need it to be, throw it into a pita, add some sprouts, cucumber, tomato and you've got a great lunch.I love making my own, but if time is an issue, buying it pre-made is great as well, in fact I've only ever found 1 type of hummus with scary ingredients, 9 out of 10 of them are very clean. It's also very travel friendly and is a great companion for fresh veggies and crackers. I like getting into the habit of washing and chopping my veggies right after I go to the market or grocery store, that ensures I have a handy snack and don't let my veggies turn to liquid in a bag in the veggie drawer. Again, keep your chopped veggies in sight in your fridge, if you can't see 'em you won't eat 'em!

Here are some more no fail healthy snack options....
 
  •  Another great option is rice crackers, pack with some almond butter and an apple and voila, delicious and nutritious.
  • organic corn chips and salsa with homemade guacamole 
  • trailmix with dark chocolate or carob chips, try adding dried fruit as well, make sure it's organic, you want to avoid sulphites
  • make a fruit and protein smoothie the night before, pop it into the freezer and consume later in the day once it has thawed
  • air popped popcorn, top with sea salt and nutritional yeast for a high protein snack
  • invest in a small thermos and pack last nights left overs, like rice, stews, soups, beans and lentils
  • make gazpacho, no heating required!
  • pack good quality energy bars like lara bars, clif bars or vega bars
  • buy or make your own kale chip, a great alternative to the regular guys
  • cereal, grab a good quality box of gluten-free cereal and a box of alternative milk (rice, almond, hemp) and take this with you to the office
 Have a GREAT first week back!