We all know about those “4PM hunger pangs,” right? Whether you are on a diet, watching your weight, just adapting a healthy lifestyle, those hunger pangs can be a speed bump as you crave for something tasty to satisfy those mid-day cravings.
If you too are looking for some healthy yet delicious alternatives to your usual snacking options, we have got you sorted. We spoke to Fitness Trainer and Lifestyle content creator, Nehal Kansara, who shared with us 5 easy-to-make Yummy and Healthy Snacking Recipes that will keep hunger pangs and cravings at bay.
#1. Peri Peri Chickpea Chaat
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This is a simple, delicious, 100 calorie chaat that will also take care of your fiber and proteins. What’s more? This is something you can even prepare to serve to your guests at your next brunch party as well.
How to Prepare:
- Take 25gms kala chana (chickpeas) , add some salt in it, and air-fry them.
- Once they are crunchy, take it out in a bowl.
- Add to this diced onions, cucumber & tomatoes
- Now add some spices by putting in some peri peri seasoning, chaat masala & salt in it. Mix it well.
- Lastly, add some lemon juice to enhance the taste.
- Toss it well and eat!
#2. Street Style Tikki Chaat
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This protein-filled goodness chaat can double up as a mid-meal snack or even as a healthy addition to your lunch. And it has 20gms of protein in it.
How to Prepare:
- Take some boiled kala chana (chickpeas) and mash it up coarsely.
- Add some boiled masoor dal in it and mix it well.
- Then, add some freshly chopped vegetables in this mix – onion, bell peppers, grated carrots, tomatoes, chopped green chillies, etc.
- To this, add ginger-garlic paste, a pinch of salt & other spices – chilli powder, haldi, chaat masala, coriander powder, and jeera powder
- In the end add a bit of Chickpea or Sattu flour, and mix it up by hand.
- Bind these into tikki shape and cook it in 1 tbsp oil or ghee until crisp
- Once cooked, break the tikkis into small pieces, and add dahi, green & tamarind chutney, some sprouts & garnish with coriander leaves.
Just mix it up and enjoy healthy, crunchy and tasty (and yes, protein-filled) snack.
#3. Healthy Bhelpuri
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Here’s a healthy twist to our Indian-favorite Bhelpuri. This dish has 15gms of protein in it.
How to Prepare:
- Roast 1 cup of murmur and makhana, and half cup of chana in a pan on slow flame, with haldi, salt & 1/2 tbsp ghee.
- Mix it till it is crunchy.
- Transfer to a bowl, and add chopped onions and tomatoes.
- Add a pinch of salt salt, jeera powder, chaat masala, and green and tamarind chutney.
- Finally add lime juice and garnish with coriander leaves.
- Add some khakhra on top of it for crunchiness.
Crushed khakhra is a healthy yet crunchy alternative to bhujia, which will give you the similar taste.
#4. High-Protein, Low-Cal Kebab
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This is a perfect snacking option, or can also be used as a light replacement for your lunch or dinner. It has 55 calories and 7gms of protein per piece.
How to Prepare:
- In a bowl take 80gms hung curd, 60gms paneer and 40gms mixed sprouts, and mix it well.
- To this add green chilli, garlic, salt, cumin powder, and chaat
- Add a tbsp. of roasted besan in it and mix it well.
- Now bind it in shape of kebabs.
- Grill on both sides in pan in very less oil.
- And, serve with your favorite dip.
If making this recipe for your meal replacement, then add some more veggies of your choice in it to make it more full-filling.
#5. Single-serve Vegan Chocolate Cake
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Now if you are someone with sweet-tooth, we have got something for you as well. This single-serve cake is vegan, sugar-free and made without any butter, cream or oil. And it just has 95 calories.
What All You Need:
- 1.5 Tbsp Oat Flour
- 1/2 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 1.5 Tbsp Zero Calorie Sweetner
- Pinch of Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
- 50 ml Almond/ Normal / Plant Milk
- 5g Stevia sweetned Choco chips
How to Prepare:
- Take your oat flour, cocoa powder, sweetener, baking powder (in quantities mentioned above). Add them in a bowl together and mix it well.
- Then, add vanilla extract and Almond Milk in it. Mix it again.
- Now transfer it into a microwave safe bowl, and choco chips on top of it.
- Bake at 180 degrees in pre heated oven for 25 minutes.
De-mold and indulge in this guilt-free dessert.
So, now instead of satisfying those 4PM hunger pangs with chips or junk food, go for these tried-and-tested delicious, healthy snacking recipes from a fitness expert.
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