Festival season is upon us, meaning you’ve gotta keep those energy levels up; especially those of you who are gonna be doing a lot of camping this year! Indulging in all of the shenanigans a festival has to offer can be difficult, so your energy level is one of the most important things to maintain. If you’re driving, your body is already worn out just from the road trip, so imagine dragging yourself around to the after parties all weekend long! Not gonna cut it. These are some of our favorite little snacks to keep you going for the duration of your festie experience. You might’ve thought it was easier to run by a drive thru (don’t do that to yourself, please), but these will prove the complete opposite; make them before leaving your hotel and eat them on the way, or, if you’re camping, just wake up and lean over your cooler! In addition to having fairly short prep times, all of these treats are proven to aid in supplementing your body with energy and nutrients. You can read where we gathered our facts by the links posted at the bottom of this article.
Apples + Honey + Peanut Butter
Everyone is well aware that ‘an apple a day’ can do wonders for your health. Apples are one of the highest sources of flavonoids, which boosts our immune systems, something we desperately need in the midst of adventuring. Our bodies metabolize fructose (natural sugar in fruits) into glucose, which our cells then turn into energy. Two tablespoons of peanut butter provides about 7 grams of protein, and it’s also pretty calorie dense, so a little can go a long way. Finish this snack by drizzling a bit of honey on your apple wedges, giving it a sweet layer. Honey is one of nature’s top superfoods, and has a wide range of uses and benefits, even when used in small doses. Packing about 17 carbohydrates per tablespoon, honey aids in maintaining your muscles’ glycogen, ultimately giving you more fuel throughout the day.
Nuts + Dark Chocolate + Dried Raspberries
There’s a reason all trail mixes begin with a base of nuts; they’re full of good fats, proteins, and minerals where we get our highest amounts of energy from. A great balance to nuts in texture and flavor, dark chocolate does more than add depth to this snack. Containing theobromine, a relative of caffeine, it has a longer lasting effect on the body and leaves you feeling more energetic. To round out this awesome snack, we suggest topping with dried raspberries. Their red hue is attributed from a powerful antioxidant that boosts energy, called anthocyanin. Not fond of raspberries? Any berry will have tons, particularly those with a blue, red or purple skin color.
Not your traditional boring tuna sandwich: Add almonds + dried cranberries
Fish are one of the top sources for omega-3’s and protein, and are also high in essential fats, providing high levels of energy to your muscles and organs. Mixing in slivered almonds (leaving unroasted allows for the most nutritional value) adds crunch and contains nearly as much protein as some meats. Niacin, a B-complex vitamin that helps your body convert food to energy, is found in cranberries, making it a perfect add-on for this blend, putting a whole new spin on the tuna sandwiches we grew up making. I also love using potato bread, as all the flavors balance one another perfectly! Plus, it’s the softest bread, ever.
Yogurt + Fruit
Along with being highly customizable, having a bowl of yogurt before starting your festival day can make all the difference. Carbs and protein are two of the biggest sources of energy, making Greek yogurt a solid go-to for an easy snack (it has more than double the protein than regular yogurt does). Adding fruits from this list will result in even more sustainable energy throughout your day, such as apples or berries.
Red Peppers + Hummus
Highly praised for being full of vitamins A & C, which help your skin’s health, bell peppers are also linked to the prevention of some cancers with its abundance of lycopenes. Hummus, a garbanzo bean based dish, is full of protein as well as amino acids that promote quality of sleep. The addition of olive oil in hummus also helps keep your hunger at bay. Slicing up a red pepper and using hummus as a dip is one of our favorite on-the-go snacks.
Links for reference + further information:
http://www.honey.com/honey-at-home/honeys-natural-benefits/natures-energy-food
http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20030827/dark-chocolate-is-healthy-chocolate
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20585485,00.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=50&tname=foodspice
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/gives-energy-per-gram-fat-protein-carbohydrates-8319.html
