NEW SNACKS ON THE BLOCK
Snacks (or merienda, as it’s sometimes called in the Philippines and some other Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries) are an important part of the day as pick-me-ups and tide-you overs, especially for those who run at quite a pace. I like to keep snacking to a minimum — after learning the hard way that an abundance of food in my working environment (whether recipe testing/shoots, events or just walking down the high street and being bombarded with treats and their aromas wafting out of shops) leads to constant snacking, which in turn makes my Agni bleugh…. Too much food, too often, weakens our digestive fires, as they never get a rest or get to completely digest a meal before we pop even more food into our stomachs. On the flipside, too little food also weakens digestion, so again balance is key — and balance is found only from mindful action. Ayurveda recommends leaving three hours between meals, but we must also listen to our Agni — a hungry Agni needs food.
Snacks get a bad rap: too processed, too sugary, too salty, too full of gluten, too refined, too many artificial additives. Here are some of the snacks I’ve met recently that you might want to give a whirl in your bag for when the fire needs feeding!
Guruji make sustainable snacks using lotus seeds, an ancient superfood loaded with protein, minerals and antioxidants. If you’re looking to try something different altogether, these puffy snacks come in four fun flavours — Lightly Salted, Smoky Thai, Salt & Cacao and Cheesy Vegan.
Over lockdown, Nick and I have taken on “Project Veg Patch” — after finally getting a garden, post-10 years of zero outdoor space in our last place, it’s long been a dream to get growing our own seasonal fruit and veg. Hard work, but well worth it for the appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes of getting veggies onto our plates. I’m proud to be working with ZenB, who share those values. Their newly released range of veggie stick snack bars uses the WHOLE vegetable — that’s right: peel, core, stem and seeds too. So now you can get on-the-go snacks (or just snacks for the home for the time being) that are food waste-friendly and delicious too.
I steer clear of chewing gum for the most part as you’re getting your stomach juices flowing but not giving it any food. We can use this side effect to our advantage though — chewing some gum before a meal to make sure your Agni is ready or immediately post-meal to help digest. Traditionally gum is minty — and mint is an age-old remedy to support digestion. Oh My Gum also comes in cinnamon, a sweet spice which is also recognised as aiding digestion as well as regulating blood sugar levels. If you want gum, keep it close to meals and choose a better brand like Oh My Gum.
Pep & Lekker Cumin & Nigella Seed Snack
A baked snack that tastes both wholesome and delicious, made with all natural ingredients and a crisp base of rice, buckwheat and sunflower seeds. I love a nigella seed, so Cumin and Nigella is a favourite, but these bites come in a variety of flavours if you’re not a cumin fan (I’m not judging…..).
Insane Grain use the ancient African grain sorghum to make their tasty, nutritious and ethical snacks — similar to the commercial cheesy puffs/Wotsits and not dissimilar to Hippeas (another great and healthier snack that has pretty much gone mainstream). The Insane Grain puffs come in cheese, salt and vinegar or salted caramel to satisfy all those cravings — I recommend the salt and vinegar for those looking for some old-school flavour.
Eat Real Sour Cream & Chives Quinoa Chips
Like sour cream and onion Pringles, but without the gluten, monosodium glutamate and trans fats, and just as delish. Eat Real have a great range of healthier snacks in interesting flavours, with bases made from quinoa, lentils, chickpeas and veggies!
Tony’s Chocolonely Extra Dark 70%
A vegan chocolate bar in a super fun package that’s hard to miss and will brighten up any decor if it gets to hang around long enough. Tony’s is a brand with a conscience, making us very aware of and working hard to combat slavery and child labour in cocoa farming. This is a snack you can feel good about in more ways than one.