Healthy Snacks That Almost Taste Like Junk Food

If you are anything like me, you started off the school year with your 4 pm snack consisting of shoveling mini Oreos into your mouth. Weeks into the semester, you’ve probably realized that this wasn’t an ideal situation. While you still love dessert, you figured your afternoon snack should be real people food and you decided to save the treats for after dinner. However, the notion of a kale smoothie or a salad does not very much appeal to you. The solution? Healthy snacks that almost taste like junk food!Here are some of my favourites:What you’re craving: ChipsThe solution: Eggplant Chips What you’ll need: 1 Asian Eggplant (it is long and skinny)1-2 tablespoons olive oilSprinkle of salt and/or spices of your choiceHow to make it:1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees2. Cut your eggplant into thin slices3. Lay them on a cookie sheet or on top of parchment paper over a pan4. Brush or drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil on the slices5. Sprinkle salt on them6. Place them in the oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping them over half way throughYou can always experiment with adding other flavours to the chips, like soy sauce, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, etc.What you’re craving: Fro-yo or ice creamThe solution: Fruit Smoothie What you’ll need: A blender/magic bullet1 frozen banana1 cup of your preference of frozen fruits (berry mix, mango, pineapple, etc.)1/2 cup of almond milkHow to make it: 1. Put in your banana and add a cup of frozen fruit to your blender2. Add half a cup of almond milk3. Blend away! You can add some more almond milk as you blend and stir if the smoothie is having trouble mixingWhat you’re craving: NachosThe solution: Avocado WrapWhat you’ll need: 1 whole wheat or regular tortillaA very ripe avocadoSalsaHow to make it: 1. Heat up the tortilla, either on a pan flipping it to either side, or in the oven (optional)2. Mash up the avocado in the middle of the tortilla3. Drizzle some salsa over it and roll it upAdd shredded cheese while heating the tortilla on the pan for a more indulgent snack. For a lunch option, you can also add tuna or turkey to the wrap.What you’re craving: Bits and Bites/ChipsThe solution: Roasted ChickpeasWhat you’ll need:1 can of chickpeas1 tablespoon of olive oilSprinkle of salt and/or spices of your choiceHow to make it: This recipe can be made in a pan or in the oven, but this is my preferred method:1. Put a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan2. Pour out about half the can of chickpeas on to the pan3. Cook until the chickpeas brown and become crunchy on the outside, about 10-15 minutes4. Add spices of your choice, such as cayenne, cumin, smoked paprika, etc. You can get very creative here.If you are a salad person, these also taste delicious in a salad with spinach, nuts, cheese and balsamic dressing.Happy snacking!Yours Creatively,Raquel Simpson, Online ColumnistPhotography: Amanda Katz