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On-the-go snacks, high blood pressure and ‘After-School Power Balls’!

September 20, 2014 7 Comments

choc-balls-on-purple

I find it hard to understand diets that advocate ‘no snacking’. A healthy snack keeps us ‘on the go’, between meals, at work and after a workout. With the school term back in full swing now, our children get home from school after lacrosse/netball/dance/football/gym/drama/hockey and they are STARVING. So they need something to keep them happy while they get homework underway before dinner. And when I’m working hard and on the go, it’s difficult not to grab a biscuit from my workplace biscuit jar (whose idea was that? Lethal!)

We are trying to avoid too much refined sugar though. If sugar wasn’t having a bad enough year already, research published at the weekend suggests that sugar, rather than salt, may cause high blood pressure. In the American Journal of Cardiology, Dr James DiNicolantonio claims ‘encouraging consumers to hold the sugar, not the salt, may be the best dietary strategy to achieve blood pressure control’. http://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(14)01427-1/abstract

Other medics have argued against this, saying there is still good evidence that salt intake and high blood pressure are linked. Research shows that 75% of salt comes from processed foods – another good reason to avoid those where possible.

Either way, high blood pressure can be a precursor to heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia – either by reducing blood supply to the brain or as the result of a stroke. My mum had a series of small strokes – transient ischemic attacks – in the years before she was diagnosed with dementia so I’m conscious of keeping a lid on my sugar AND salt consumption.

So with the children starving after school, and me trying to snack healthily too, we’ve built up a roster of healthy on-the-go food: hummus and crudites, oatcakes with nut butter and a drizzle of honey, cheese, Medjool dates. Deliciously Ella’s raw chocolate brownies are great http://deliciouslyella.com/recipe/how-to-make-raw-brownies/ as are the apple ring ideas in the Hemsley and Hemsley book ‘The Art of Eating Well’ (slice apples into discs and use like a cracker with toppings like cheese or a spread). Annabel has some great healthy cookie recipes which will be on the blog soon (so sign up for the weekly update!) And we’ve created these ‘After-School Power Balls’ – my 11-year-old loves making (and eating) them but they are so simple a much younger child could do it too.

AFTER –SCHOOL POWER BALLS (makes about 20)

150g whole almonds

100g oats

4 tbs almond butter

4 tbs coconut oil

2 tbs cocoa or raw cacao

200g dates (stoned)

1tsp cinnamon

2-3 tbs water

Blitz the almonds and oats in the food processor – you want a bit of texture – then add all the other ingredients, except water .Slowly add the water until the mixture comes together. Wet hands and roll walnut-sized lumps into smooth balls. Chill in the fridge. They freeze well too for emergency snacking!

Susan

« EAT YOUR GREENS … BUT WHICH ONES?
BOOST YOUR BRAIN HEALTH – BEST-EVER BLACKBERRY MUFFINS »

Comments

  1. Louise Jablonowska says

    September 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    Will certainly try these for my two – getting the sugar balance is a tricky one especially when hormones and tiredness kick in! Can you do a post on immunity as there is so much going around…? I make a lemon, ginger, honey and pepper hot cordial but that is about all I have up my sleeve. Loving the blog btw.

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      September 20, 2014 at 11:22 am

      Will do, Louise – really good idea! I used to get so many colds but have a few tricks up my sleeve to prevent and fight them.

      Reply
  2. Susan Saunders says

    September 20, 2014 at 11:26 am

    Oh – a couple of things I missed off the healthy snack list: little bags of dried mango (on special offer in Tesco at the moment) and The Food Doctor Wholesome Bars (also on special offer I noticed this morning!)

    Reply
  3. Ruth Thomas says

    September 22, 2014 at 8:53 am

    They sound great. Biggest problem I have for Lucy is her nut (well fruit nut) allergy. Any ideas on home made power snacks without nuts……

    Reply
    • Susan Saunders says

      September 23, 2014 at 9:49 pm

      Oh I will have a think and experiment. It’s a really good point as so many schools are nut free now too. I’m sure there’s something we can come up with!

      Reply
  4. my blood pressure is 140 over 90 says

    April 13, 2015 at 1:30 pm

    Wonderful post! We will be linking to this great article on our site.
    Keep up the good writing.

    Reply
    • Annabel Abbs says

      April 15, 2015 at 9:34 pm

      Thank you! Much appreciated …

      Reply

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