Elevenses are a very real thing in my life. When people say they go from breakfast to lunch without getting hungry, I am immediately suspicious of them. Maybe they don’t run 8 miles before work, maybe they don’t talk about food all day (job hazard of a student dietitian), or maybe their morning cereal really does tide them over. But for me, regardless of what I’ve eaten for breakfast, I need a mid-morning snack (and a mid-afternoon one too!).
The key to a good snack is the same as with most meals: combine protein, carbs and fat to help you feel satiated. Four o’clock became affectionately known as ‘choc-o-clock’ in my old office, and we’d walk up seven floors to get a cup of tea and ‘something chocolatey’ to satisfy the craving. I am a big chocoholic, but now I try to have a chocolate snack that will actually fill me up, provide nutrients (rather than just sugar) and fuel me for an evening run-commute or workout. My favourites are the super-simple Chocolate Fruit and Nut Snacks, the decadently fudgy Choc-O’clock Sweet Potato Brownies or a slice of Triple Chocolate Banana Bread. The Mocha Bites are also great if you need to get through that mid-afternoon slump and pump you up for a strength session.
For those wanting something more savoury, I recommend the Peanut Butter Hummus with crudités or pretzels, or the Egg Muffins.
I used to struggle with what snacks to buy when I was at work, so while these aren’t all recipes, I thought it would be helpful to share some ideas for things to nibble on, to keep marathon ‘hanger’ at bay: