Eating for energy: 20 carb loading snacks

Not long ago I’d mindlessly grab snacks such as chocolate bars to combat boredom or out of sheer habit. After losing over three stones in six months my snacking habits have changed completely. I still snack between meals but I’m more likely to reach for naturally sweet treats with slow burning carbs. I have found this to be a good tactic for weight management and exercise recovery alike.

Healthy foods that give you energy and keep you going – whether you’re running a race or the next meal seems ages away – will manage your glycemic load and prevent the kind of energy slumps that can easily lead to the biscuit tin. Furthermore, foods that are less processed made from healthier raw ingredients take more effort to eat so you are less likely to scoff and virtually inhale 400 calories without realising.

I know it sounds daft but our brains burn through a lot of energy even when we’re not moving. Which is why you start to lose concentration if you’re hungry. Whereas previously I’d have opened the fridge and assembled a plate of cheese and crackers, nowadays I’m more likely to count out a handful of cashew nuts or dried apricots.

I am a huge fan of those raw energy balls you see next to the till in shops nowadays. The spirulina ones are a personal favourite. But they’re SO ridiculously expensive I’m glad my blogging friends have been busy publishing their own homemade energy ball recipes and other snacks for boosting energy levels.

Here’s a run down of my favourite UK food bloggers’ homemade energy balls and bars containing natural energy boosting foods!

1. Chocolate cardamom tahini truffles at Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen.

2. Gluten free hemp pumpkin seed bars at Maison Cupcake.

3. Quinoa protein energy bars at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary.

4. Vegan chocolate cherry truffles at Hungry Healthy Happy.

5. Salted chocolate tahini snack balls at Celery and Cupcakes.

6. Smoked Chilli energy bars at Tin & Thyme.

7. Kicheree at Gujarati Girl.

8. Chocolate and Blueberry Flapjacks at Maison Cupcake.

9. Oaty No Bake Bars at Baking Queen 74.

10. Raw Vegan Cranberry Oat Energy Bars at A Mummy Too.

11. Chocolate Energy Balls at Utterly Scrummy.

12. Spelt banoffee flapjacks with dark chocolate at Fab Food 4 All.

13. Coconut bliss balls with medjool dates and raw cacao at Tin & Thyme.

14. Oat, date and sultana energy balls at Planet Veggie.

15. Peanut butter oat cookies at Kitchen Sanctuary.

16. Carrot, banana and chocolate chip flapjacks at Tinned Tomatoes.

17. No bake nutty energy balls at Utterly Scrummy.

18. Chocolate orange date and seed energy balls at Fuss Free Flavours.

19. Scottish Macaroon Snowballs at Tinned Tomatoes.

20. Energy Bites at United Cakedom.

 

This post was inspired by this week’s interview with Urvashi Roe as she is running the London Marathon at the weekend.  I am imagining muscle aches bad enough as it is from my 5K race for life due in late May and I cannot imagine running over twenty six miles although Ceri’s marathon training schedule shows that building up from zero to six months is possible!

Do you have a favourite energy boosting snack?