Mother’s Day 2023: Healthy and easy snack recipes for moms on the go

Working women often have to juggle between work, life and mom duties. With tightly-packed schedules, they hardly get time to focus on their needs which could end up having a negative impact on their health. Especially for lactating mothers, the right nutrition is important to ensure enough milk production for the baby. Planning meals and snacks in advance can help busy moms get the essential nutrients while avoiding junk food that has empty calories. A balanced meal or snack can help keep one satiated, full of energy and prevent post lunch drowsiness. (Also read: Sweeten up your summer with these easy and refreshing fruit dessert recipes)

“No matter how busy your schedule is, it is always important to make sure you provide your body with the nutrients it requires to function and also carry on each process smoothly. A pregnant mom has to make sure she eats well throughout the three trimesters to have a healthy baby and also help in the growth and development of the baby in the womb. A lactating mother whose calorie requirements are more than any other phase of a woman’s life must make sure she’s eating well to recover and have enough milk supply to feed her baby. We often meet mothers who compromise on their snack intake and switch to any packaged and ready-to-eat snacks as they require no preparation and are also tasty. What they miss to see is that they have just consumed zero calories with high sodium and no nutrients whatsoever,” says Falak Hanif, Executive Nutritionist, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru, Sahakarnagar.

Falak Hanif shares some easy-to-make snacks for moms on the go so that they can eat healthy without tiring themselves out.

1. Makhana Desi Twist

Makhana being a good source of protein is easily available in the market and can be bought and used easily once roasted. A few add-ons just make it tastier and more nutrient dense.

Ingredients:

Makhana – 30 gm

Peanuts – 5-6

Ghee – 1 tsp

Grated carrot – 2 tablespoon

Chopped onion – 2 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Egg white – 1 (for eggetarians and non-vegetarians)

Method:

– Heat ghee in a pan and add onions to it.

– Once the onions turn slightly golden brown, add peanuts followed by makhanas. Add carrots and salt and transfer to a bowl.

– Chopped egg whites can be added over it (optional for a quick protein boost).

2. Nutty mix

Trail mixture is one of the easiest snacks since it does not require any preparation. Just carry 5-6 almonds mixed with 2-3 walnuts, 2-3 cashews, 4-5 raisins and a few sunflower seeds and watermelon seeds. Add together your favourite combinations and season with salt or dried herbs.

3. Chickpea delight

Hummus is a middle eastern cuisine but is being highly relished by the Indian taste buds too. This dip is high in protein and full of goodness and can be refrigerated once made and easily used for a week.

Ingredients:

Boiled chickpeas (250 gm)

Sesame seeds (10 gm)

Olive oil (2 tsp)

Salt to taste

Lemon juice (2 tablespoon)

Method:

– Mash boiled chickpeas and keep them aside.

– Roast white sesame seeds in a pan and let it cool.

– Take roasted sesame seeds in a blender, add lemon juice and blend.

– Add olive oil, salt and blend until it forms a smooth paste. Add the cooked chickpeas and blend.

– Your delicious hummus is ready.

– Store the same in a dry airtight container and use a dry spoon to avoid spoilage.

– Hummus can be eaten with cut vegetables, crackers, khakra, multigrain bread or chapati or Pita bread.

4. Roasted Chana

Roasted chana is available in the market. All you need to do is spice it up with seasonings of your choice and it’s ready to eat. Some of the seasonings you could add are chopped onion, tomatoes, 4-5 peanuts.

5. Peanut Chikkis

Mothers with a sweet tooth can munch on chikkis instead of indulging in high calorie desserts. It takes care of your sweet cravings and at the same time is healthy if taken in moderation.

6. Jar of Goodness

This would require preparation and refrigeration overnight but turns out to be a yummy dessert.

Ingredients:

Oats – 40 gm

Milk – 150 ml

Dates – 1-2

Fruits of your choice – strawberry, pomegranate, mango, avocado etc

Chia seeds – 1-2 tsp

Recipe:

Pour milk in a mason jar. Add chia seeds followed by oats, dates, Pomegranate or mango pieces and refrigerate overnight.