For me, a full belly equals happiness, comfort. But it’s when I fill my belly with foods high in fat, sugar and calories that I realize this is not a healthy way to live. I’ve recently been trying to improve my snack choices, because when I choose nutritious snacks throughout the day, I am less likely to overeat at mealtimes.
To draw on the idea of food equating comfort, I did a little bit of research in my memory. If it serves me well, I can remember my mom wasn’t big on candy bars and lollipops for us kids, but she and I do have a weakness for peanut butter. So if it was snack time, you can bet peanut butter was involved. One of my favorites was one Mom said she discovered when my family lived in Canada before I was born (I called her to double-check the recipe):
Gorp
• 2 cups of O-shaped dry oat cereal (such as Cheerios)
• 1/2 ounce of raisins (between 50-60)
• 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips
Yield: four servings
Using a spoon, mix all ingredients together in a small bowl. Divide the mixture into four equal portion sizes, and place each portion into one snack-size baggie for easy transport on the road.
Note: The peanut butter and honey always made for a somewhat messy snack time. These amounts should be just enough to hold the mixture together, but you can replace them with a half-ounce of peanuts (akin to trail mix) to be safe.
Maybe peanut butter isn’t your thing. But this month, I challenge you to search your mind for some healthy, comforting snacks from your childhood. If you’re like me, you’ll not only enjoy the snacks — you’ll enjoy reliving the memories, too.
