So, tell me…. do you think a serial snacker can shift to a cereal snacker?
Yes! I know it’s not a good idea to snack. And if you snack, it should be an apple, nuts, etc. Some plans even say you should put the snack at the end of the meal and not eat anything between meals. But this blog is about snacking because many people are snacking, and many people that have children can re-orient both their own snacking and what they’re giving the kids.
This brings me back 25 years when my kids were young. I don’t know if you have children and do this, or have ever done this but…
I would make baggies with Cheerios. When we were out, and the kids started to ‘crank’, I would give each a bag to keep them entertained. Probably no more than one bag per day, no more than a quarter of a bag. We later came to find out Cheerios have fiber so in that way they were good (and certainly answer the question: why does the baby’s diaper have to be changed again – lol) but in today’s world we certainly do know there are better choices. We can steer that ship into Organic Territory, never worry about GMO again and not look back!
So I took myself to the market. After the fact I can tell you: It was fun to pick out 3 or 4 boxes of cereal knowing I was going to create a snack for myself. (This is even a day out you can do with the kids)!
I found there are Organic Amaranth Flakes, Organic Vegan Sprouted Brown Rice Cacao Crisps, and Organic Honey Nut O’s. And right on the box of for example the Cacao Crisps, they’re talking about vegan farmers using smart safe techniques to grow the food. They’re talking about using Coconut Palm Sugar, a naturally low glycemic index sweetener, mentioning it’s non GMO and explaining that when you use sprouted rice, for example you can digest it better. Not only that, but the nutrients process better in your system.
So, I’m picking snack food I feel good about. And a cup is right around the same calorie count as an apple.
What I am talking about is snacking – enjoying a really crunchy, salty sweet snack. The snack attack can hit at any time…. in the car, in front of the TV. But here’s what I’m thinkin’: if you add some nuts (roasted salted and use less of) and raisins to the mix of 3-4 cereals and then portion control them in bags, you can grab a bag of ‘mix’ once a day/once a week, and not do any real harm to your body. The only ‘real’ harm as I see it is getting into a regular pattern of snacking. But I’m sure if you’re snacking daily already (and most of us are), this is a way to refine that snacking and eventually lower the frequency to just right for your body.
What about carrying a bag into the movies? Sweet, satisfying and way better for you than the popcorn with the mystery oil and butter ‘flavor’. Right?
RIGHT CHEF!
So I think it’s about preparing. This is especially true as we approach the holidays. For both our kids and ourselves, we can go the cereal, nut, dried fruit route instead of snickers…. we really can.
Beyond that, when I see pre-portioned bags of cereal, raisins and nuts on the counter in the morning? And I’m feeling lazy about breakfast? It goes into a bowl with some coconut milk, and I’m done and done!
It’s just about making small lifestyle changes and taking baby steps to slightly shift how and what we eat. Any time, for any reason you can shift to Organic? You’ve done well! And that’s the basis of this blog. Making the shift.
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian