Simple snacking ideas on a budget

Snacking is an important part of a balanced diet. Mid meal snacks can help with our energy levels, keep us full in between meals and prevent over-eating at the end of the day.

Snacks can also help us fuel up before exercise. Here are our top three tips and tricks to creating healthy, delicious snacks on a budget.

Choose home brand

Home brand food items can be more affordable than branded items and can be equally as nutritious. Tinned or frozen fruit and veggies, canned beans and legumes, bread, dairy and eggs and wholegrains can all be budget friendly, healthy snacking options.

Here are our favourite snack ideas using home brand products:

• yoghurt with frozen berries
• tinned tuna with crackers
• packets of unsalted, air popped popcorn
• rice cups with tinned tuna
• overnight oats made with home brand oats, milk, and frozen fruit
• ‘odd bunch’ fruits and vegetables
• cooking staples, like flour, eggs and spices. Try our olive oil, carrot, and apple bread for a healthy, homemade snack.

Buy seasonally

Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season can be a much cheaper alternative than buying ones out of-season. Seasonal produce tends to have more flavour, be more nutritious, and less harmful on the environment. Veggie sticks with hummus, a piece of fresh fruit or a fruit and vegetable smoothie are quick, easy, and healthy snack options that provide you with fibre, vitamins, and minerals to keep the cravings at bay.

These are our favourite fruits and veggies for the cooler months:

• rhubarb
• pineapple
• grapefruit
• banana
• pears
• broccoli
• sweet potato
• spinach
• parsnip
• leek
• eggplants
• carrot.

Up your toast game

Toast is one of easiest, most affordable, and versatile snacks out there. You can top a piece of bread with just about anything to build a snack that will keep you going until mealtime. Full of essential B group vitamins, carbohydrates, protein and fibre, the humble piece of bread can be turned into a taste sensation.

Here are our favourite toppings for a piece of home brand wholegrain bread:

• banana and nut butter or spread
• strawberries and ricotta cheese
• avocado and tomato
• eggs and spinach
• baked beans and cheese
• boiled eggs and vegemite
• hummus, tomato, and capsicum.

 

Olive oil, carrot, and apple bread

Serves 10

 

 

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 cup wholemeal plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 1½ cups grated carrot
• 1 granny smith apple, grated
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp flaked almonds

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Spray a loaf tin with extra virgin olive oil spray.
2. In a small bowl, combine the flours, baking powder and soda and spices.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar on low speed. Add grated carrot, apple, lemon zest, and vanilla. Fold in half the flour, all of the olive oil, and then the remaining flour. Mix just until everything is well combined.
4. Spoon mixture into prepared loaf tin and sprinkle flaked almonds on top. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out with just a few crumbs attached.
5. Rest loaf in the tin for 15 minutes, then flip out onto rack to cool completely before serving.