Now that we’re living in yet another MCO and it’s back to working from home, the only trip we’ll get to go on is the trip back and forth from our snack cupboard. While our favourite snacks do provide us with a sense of comfort and relief from boredom, it’s important to remember that snacking may also be the cause of us consuming extra calories!
So what can we do to change that? Well, for one, we can be more mindful of the food we consume!
Here are five healthier ingredients and snacks you can look out for during your next grocery shopping run:
1. Swap the sugar-filled candy and munch on some freeze-dried fruits instead!
We’re all guilty of snacking on candy once in a while but once you realise the amount of refined sugar and additives that go into our favourite candy, you’ll definitely be put off!
But if you still find yourself craving something sweet and crunchy to snack on, why not try freeze-dried fruits? It’s healthy, nutritious and super tasty! However, make sure you’re buying the ones with no added sugar because some fruits such as freeze-dried strawberries & freeze-dried jackfruit already contain natural sugars!
2. Get fresh fruits for yummy homemade smoothies instead of buying bottled/boxed juices!
One of the healthiest ways for us to consume fruits is either by eating the whole fruit or blending it into a smoothie! Pre-made bottled fruit juices may seem tempting but it also contains lots of natural and/or added sugar, preservatives and you won’t be getting all the nutrients from the fruit itself!
The next time you’re grocery shopping, we recommend picking up some smoothie-friendly fruits such as bananas, avocados, mangoes, oranges and even berries too! ?
3. Explore the versatility of Greek yoghurt to replace milk or even santan!
Greek yoghurt is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can be used in so many different ways! Jam-packed with vitamins, calcium and potassium, it’s the perfect healthy ingredient. But make sure to get greek yoghurt and not Greek-style yoghurt which isn’t as healthy as greek yoghurt!
Also, it contains very little added sugar so it can be used for cooking, baking and even as a healthy snack on its own with some fruits as toppings!
Here are a few of our favourite ways to use greek yoghurt:
- In place of buttermilk for homemade fluffy pancakes & waffles
- Pairing our nachos & tacos with greek yoghurt instead of sour cream
- Using greek yoghurt to make yummy frozen yoghurt bark with berries!
- For added protein, we love greek yoghurt in place of santan for chicken curry!
See! The possibilities are endless!
4. Toss the potato chips aside, air-popped popcorn is here to stay
We’re all guilty of binging on potato chips especially during MCO movie nights! It’s an incredibly satisfying snack but it’s also high in calories, sodium and fats which means we shouldn’t have it too often.
A better alternative to potato chips is popcorn! Wait, what? No, we don’t mean the sugary popcorn you get at the cinema, okay! We’re talking about buying your own popcorn kernel, which can easily be found at any grocery store, and making your own popcorn at home!
The best part is, you can customise it yourself and control the number of calories & sugar that goes into your snack. Woohoo! ?
5. Put the sugary cereal & granola down, it’s time to pick up some oats!
Oatmeal makes for a great snack because it digests slowly which keeps you full for longer. Whether it’s in the form of a breakfast bowl topped with fruits and peanut butter or made into wholesome & warm cookies, you can count on oats to satisfy your snack cravings!
Not only is it super yummy, but it also has amazing health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease and improves our blood sugar control! Woah ?
Here are a few of our favourite ways to have oats:
- As a savoury breakfast bowl, mix rolled oats with soy sauce, ikan bilis and poached egg. Yum!
- Banana oat pancakes, otherwise known as lempeng pisang, a classic Malaysian snack. ?
- Using oats as the main ingredient for healthy desserts such as oat cookies and oat cupcakes!
OMG, we’re hungry already! Don’t you wish you were munching on some wholewheat snacks right now??
Well, if yummy & wholesome snacks are what you’re into, then you definitely need to check out Pocky’s newest product, Pocky Wholesome! Made from wholewheat, it’s crunchy, healthy and oh-so-addictive ?
Say whaaat? A healthier version of Pocky?? ?
It comes as no surprise that Pocky is one of the most famous snack brands in Malaysia, with an extensive choice of flavours. We’re pretty sure everyone has bought at least one box of Pocky and ate it all for themselves before (no, we’re not talking about you..) ?
So that’s why we’re super thrilled that there’s now a healthier version of our favourite snack! Here are a few reasons why you’ll love Pocky Wholesome just as much as we do:
It comes in two delicious & refreshing flavours
Pocky Wholesome is currently available in two yummy flavours which are Blueberry Yoghurt and Chocolate Almond!
You can actually taste the blueberry bits and the almond bits!
Yes, that’s when you know a snack is truly as wholesome as they say it is! ?
It’s made from wholesome ingredients so it’s low in calories and high in deliciousness!
Pocky Wholesome biscuit sticks are made from wholewheat & oats which means it’s a nutritious snack, perfect for those WFH days. ?
Yummy snacks minus the guilt of snacking?! Sign us up!
While watching what you eat is important, it also goes hand in hand with making time to move your body and exercise! Since it’s MCO and we’re all spending more time on the couch, try and carve out 30 to 45 minutes a day to move your body! After all, don’t we all want to live a more wholesome & healthy life?
Speaking of wholesome lifestyles, Pocky is inviting YOU to join these fitness influencers for virtual home workouts every Wednesday! From home cardio to aerobics, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t tune in to these profiles:
- Join @nanaalhaleq for home cardio workouts and get sweaty! ?
- Dance with @linoralow as she guides you through aerobics and Zumba workouts! ??
- Get boxing with @jihinr as she teaches you the tips & tricks of boxing ?
Yasss! It’s really important for us to live healthier lifestyles, especially during the lockdown. Because we’re cooped up at home, it’s easy for us to get stressed easily which can lead to poor eating habits. Well, lucky for us, we can now snack on Pocky Wholesome so be sure to grab a few boxes during your next shopping trip!
Who’s ready for some virtual workouts and healthy snacks? We know we are! For more information on Pocky and Pocky Wholesome, make sure you follow their Facebook & Instagram pages today!
