If you’re anything like the rest of the world right now, you’ve probably been searching the internet for new baking ideas and snacks to get you through this time. You may be feeling like it’s hard to follow a healthy lifestyle when we’re surrounded by the food in our cabinets and encouraged to stay at home.

Over the past month, I’ve found that trying to follow a somewhat normal routine to the pre-quarantine life has gotten me through the strange changes our world is facing. Getting outside more to clear your mind, get some movement to your body, and trying new recipes has helped boost both my mental and physical health lately. We have more free time to pick up new hobbies, stay in touch with friends and family, and my favorite part: cook more!

The great thing about these recipes is they are all easy to make and nutrient-dense since they incorporate fruits, veggies, and a protein source.

White Chocolate/Dark Chocolate Raspberry Energy Bites

These make a great little treat for a variety of situations- breakfast on-the-go, a pre-workout boost, or a quick snack that will satisfy your sweet tooth. This recipe is easy to make and contains many ingredients you probably have on hand. Have one or two for a sweet treat during your day! I've made them with both white and dark chocolate chips, so use whatever is available or calling your name :)

Recipe:

· 1 cup oats

· 1/3 cup PB

· 2 Tbsp chia seeds

· 1/3 cup mashed raspberries

· 1 Tbsp honey

· 1/4 cup dark or white chocolate chips

1. Combine everything in a bowl and let it set in the fridge for 15-20 minutes.

2. Roll into about 10-12 1” balls and store in Tupperware for a week in the fridge.

Homemade Lunchables

I was thinking about Lunchables the other day and how they’re basically the original charcuterie board, so it inspired me to make my own homemade Lunchables! Except this version is a bit lower in sodium and includes whole grains, fruit, more protein, and antioxidants from dark chocolate 😊 Super simple to make for an effortless lunch or snack!

You could swap out the turkey for a hardboiled egg, chicken, or protein source or your choice, or add veggies instead of the chocolate too. Either way, making this kind of made me feel like a kid again!

Carrot Cake Banana Muffins

If you’re getting bored of having your carrots to snack on with dip, try shredding them and making them into muffins. That vitamin A will be great in this healthy baking recipe. With this recipe in particular, I found that these actually taste even better the second day after the flavors have soaked in a bit more!

Recipe:

·1 1/2 cups rolled oats

· 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed

· 2 tsp cinnamon

· 1/2 tsp nutmeg

· 1 1/4 tsp baking soda

· 1/4 tsp salt

· 1/3 cup peanut butter

· 2 eggs

· 2 tsp vanilla

· 2 mashed bananas

· 1 cup shredded carrots

1. Blend all of the dry ingredients together, then add all remaining ingredients except carrots to the blender.

2. Pour the mix into a bowl then add the shredded carrots.

3. Scoop into a muffin tin and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

4. Optional: add cream cheese frosting on top 😊

Apples with Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Dip

An easy snack option that incorporates fruit and high-quality protein, and it satisfies your sweet tooth! Apples are a great fruit to have on hand since they last so long (I like to keep mine in the fridge so they’re cold and juice when I eat them). For this easy snack, grab your yogurt and peanut butter and you’re pretty much good to go.

Recipe:

· 1 apple (or your choice of fruit: bananas and celery are also great with this)

· ½ cup plain Greek yogurt

· 1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter or 2 Tbsp powdered peanut butter (like PB Fit or PB2)

1. Mix Greek yogurt with peanut butter. If possible, refrigerate for a few minutes.

2. Dip sliced apples or your choice of fruit or veggies with dip.

3. For a sweeter dip, add a few chocolate chips.

Nutrition Info for Dip (not including fruit):

· Made with 2 Tbsp powdered PB: 180 calories, 19g protein, 10g carbs, 8g fat, 4g fiber

· Made with 1 Tbsp creamy PB: 210 calories, 15g protein, 8g carbs, 14g fat, 2g fiber

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Now that it’s getting so nice outside in Minnesota, I’ve been loving smoothies again. There’s nothing quite like going on a nice run in the sun and coming back for a cold snack. This recipe is packed with protein, potassium, calcium, and healthy fats.

Recipe: 1/2 frozen banana -1 cup chocolate Fairlife milk (or your choice of milk) -1 Tbsp chia seeds -1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder -1 Tbsp PB Fit (powdered peanut butter) or regular peanut butter -ice cubes to thicken

Nutrition Info: 380 calories, 33g protein, 39g carbs, 11g fat, and 11g fiber, so it’s both filling and delicious! I love having something simple like this either after a workout or as a late-night snack. It’s satisfying, filling, and combines my favorite flavors: chocolate, peanut butter, and banana!

Try these recipes out and let me know what you think!

Stay safe out there, and don't forget to nourish your body!

-Kristina