I want to make my blog more personable; I realized one way I could do so is to give readers a take into my dynamic FOTD if you catch my drift. Although I post lots of healthy, veganized fun foods, I try to promote a balanced lifestyle. I recently increased my mileage, and I shifted the distribution of my macronutrients in lunch, dinner, and breakfast. I try to create more carbohydrate-centered meals with a bit of protein (hours before) to provide my body with its preferred energy source. Although I practice intuitive eating, before you begin this lifestyle, I like to describe it as a balance of science and intuition. Tiktok user @dirtyhabitny describes this very well. I don’t track calories or macros, but understanding the nutritional label and macronutrients, helps me assess my accurate intuition. I have tried so many vegan protein bars, snacks, and drinks on the market; here are my April favorites.
Snack #1: Pre-Workout Bowl of Cheerios and Banana!
Although conventional cheerios contain honey, if you opt for the honey-free plain cheerios, they are significantly lower in sugar, calories and provide more volume. For a serving of 1 ½ cup of plain cheerios, there are 140 calories compared to 210 calories of Honey-Nut Cheerios. Although I am not hyper-fixated on calories, using this snack as a pre-workout meal means optimizing blood sugar levels for the activity to follow. To add potassium and more fiber to this meal, I like to add a sliced banana and sprinkle it with chia seeds for healthy omega-3 fats. This snack provides a quick hit of carbohydrates, replenishes glycogen stores, and helps me feel my best. This snack typically falls around the 291 calorie benchmark.
Snack #2: Banana Chocolate Chip Lara Bars!
One of my favorite snacks at the moment is Banana Chocolate Chip Lara Bars. They used to be a snack I opted for hours before a big workout, gym session, or whatnot. Lara Bars contain around 23 grams of carbohydrates per serving and upwards, providing our bodies with its primary source of energy. Whether you are active or not, keeping fiber-rich, nutrient-dense snacks in your bag during travel can help you avoid an unexpected pang of hunger. Lara Bars contain dates, fruit, and lots of healthy ingredients. They are one of the cleaner bars on the market. Although these bars have more fats in them, something to consider if you are trying to lose weight, they serve as a great-on-the-go type of snack, rather than a meal-replacement bar or shake would go.
Snack #3: Millet and Flax Bagels!
I decided to go to a new, more vegan-friendly grocery store this month, and I discovered my latest obsession with millet bagels. If you could not already tell, I am a huge fan of anything pasta, bread, or carb-related. Millet and Flax Bagels are a healthier alternative to plain or white-bread bagels because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber (which many meat-eaters do not get much of). I can’t notice the difference, but Flax Bagels are also lower in sugar and calories per serving. Millet and Flax Bagels are an easy switch and come at only 230 calories per bagel!
Snack #4: Everything Acai Bowls!
Ever since the start of the year, I have been obsessed with everything acai and Playa Bowls. I recently tried many packet-based acai from the grocery store, but to me, the extra punch of sugar and convenience is worth the switch. I usually order a basic acai base with banana, granola, almond butter, and chia seeds. Although I receive criticism for my order because many of the items in my bowl can add to its caloric density, I have a hard time snacking throughout the day, so these help me fuel myself right. As an athlete, it is crucial to prioritize macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for performance. I like to add almond butter for healthy fats, chia seeds for omega-3s (healthy fats), granola for taste (sugar and nutrients), and banana for potassium and carbohydrates. Although this seems like a standard order, I try to use Abbey Sharp’s philosophy of balance to choose a heart-healthy meal/snack.
Snack #5: Mixed Berry Oatmeal!
As you can probably tell, oatmeal and oats are one of my swear-by staples to my vegan diet. Oats have a low GI (Index), meaning for athletes and diabetics, it provides a slow and consistent wave of energy. If you purchase lots of high GI foods, you can expect to feel energized and hours later, hungry and on a slump again. I love oatmeal for its GI and nutritional properties, but it tastes fantastic! I used to buy my groceries at Whole Foods and other supermarkets, but you can find vegan-friendly instant oatmeals almost anywhere! I also like going to Tiktok sometimes to find new baked oat ideas. Oatmeal is a lot more than a bland bowl of iron; you can take my word for it!
See my Nutrition Disclaimer for more information.
I hope you enjoyed this article, and I would like to learn more about my readers! If you don’t mind, please drop me a comment, and I’d love to know your favorites! Maybe I’ll try them in a future article. Have a great day!
From, Jess
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