POSTED September 01, 2020
Flourish With Food: The Snack-Meal Trend
Is your energy for cooking dinner in short supply? The snack-meal approach is a perfect solution for practically any meal in your day.
The 3-square-meals a day eating pattern may no longer fit your lifestyle or energy level. The snack-meal offers convenience, thrift, variety, minimal food waste and portion control. Have you noticed the 4-compartment grab-and-go snack packs in the market?
The secret is to pair your snacks considering flavor, nutrient-rich foods, and balance. Bento tins or food storage containers with compartments are perfect for portion control and on-the-go snack-meals.
For flavor, think sweet + savory, strong + mild flavors or sweet + salty. Classic flavor pairings: apple + cinnamon, tomato + basil, chocolate + peanut butter, sour cream + onion or trail mixes.
For nutrition and balance, the perfect snack-meal includes sources of protein, a better-for-you fat, a complex carb, fruit, veggies and a fun treat. Think about seasoned or different flavored options (e.g. lemon hummus) or a sprinkle of favorite seasoning, fresh herbs or balsamic vinegar.
Snack-Meal component ideas:
- Protein sources: hard-cooked egg, cheese, nuts, nut butters, rinsed canned beans, hummus, dairy or soy yogurt, ham, turkey, tuna, salmon, yogurt-based dip
- Good-for-you fats: avocado, nuts, hummus, olives, nut butters, seeds
- Complex carbs: whole grain crackers (Wheat Thins, Triscuits), no-milk whole grain cereal (Cheerios, frosted mini wheat, oatmeal squares), granola bar, whole grain chips, popcorn
- Veggies: raw crunchy veggies, corn-off-cob, pickled vegetables, 3-bean salad
- Fruits: any fresh fruit, dried fruit, canned pineapple chunks, canned mandarin oranges
- Fun treat: chocolate covered almonds or walnuts, oatmeal cookie, square of fine chocolate
Bon Appetit!