Meal prepping is a great way to eat more intentionally and manage your weight. You can successfully prepare meals for every diet from keto to vegan. What most people overlook is the snacking aspect of meal prepping.
There are two major culprits for the hidden calories that sneak up on us: sweetened beverages and snacks. These small things have many empty calories but we reach for them frequently.
But if you have sweet tooth, it’s hard to resist a good late-night snack that you might have laying around. So to resist temptation, why not prep some healthy snacks in advance?
Here are some tips to prepare healthy snacks (and low carb snacks) that you can prepare in advance to help sugar cravings.
Meal Prep Your Workout Snacks
If you’re like most people and you get really hungry after a workout, it’s worth it to take 15 minutes to try a recipe on this list.
These meal prep snacks will provide your body with the complex carbs and protein that your body needs.
Knowing the right foods to eat after a workout goes beyond picking up a few energy bars. They are often packed with sugar, are overpriced, and contain hidden ingredients like corn syrup.
Unless you’re putting these RX Bars in your shopping cart, here are some healthy energy bars that you can make with only a few ingredients.
Related: Exactly What To Eat After a Workout
Meal Prep Your Sweet Tooth Cravings
Sugar cravings are a serious problem that most of us deal with. We are aware of the dangers of sugar and the alternatives, but when we’re in that moment of weakness it’s hard to see beyond that.
So instead of quitting sugar cold turkey, consider creating some sweet snacks that are great for you.
Not ALL sugar is bad.
You shouldn’t consume too many processed foods but prepping healthy snacks where you can control the sugar content is okay.
Fruits are another option for healthy snacks. My favorite thing to do is freeze bananas, blueberries, and pineapple in bite-sized pieces and snack on them.
Here are some low sugar snacks to meal prep that can satisfy sugar cravings.
- Muffins
- Fruit pops
- Healthy oatmeal cookies
- Frozen fruits (bananas, pineapple, mango, berries)
- Banana bread
- Healthy chocolate chip cookies
Create a Late Night Snack Stash
Meal prepping for late nights depends on your lifestyle. Are you the type of person who loves a warm cup of chocolate tea to wind down? Or do you prefer popcorn to go with your late-night binge-watching on Netflix?
Maybe you’re a wine and chocolate type of person. You have many options to choose from but these are 5 popular snack ideas for a long night.
Late night snack ideas
Go for bulk popping corn instead of the prepacked ones. You only need one pot, a little coconut oil, and popping corn. After 10 minutes, you’ll have fresh homemade popcorn without preservatives and fake butter.
Chocolate cravings don’t mean the end of a healthy diet. Studies actually show that dark chocolate can help with weight loss because it contains flavonoids that stabilize your blood sugar and prevents overeating.
Choose chocolate bars that are at least 70% dark chocolate, or try nuts covered with dark chocolate.
3- Cheese
Cheese a good snack for late nights because it has a good protein and fat contain that will help you to feel full. Remember, not all snacks have to have carbs or sugar. Although, you could have some crackers or fruit if you want something a bit more feeling.
If you struggle with lactose sensitivity, sinus, or eczema, I would advise against eating anything with dairy too late in the night. Nut butter might be a better option.
4- Nut Butter or Hummus
These two snacks are very easy to obtain- you can purchase them or make them yourself for a healthier option. Nut butter like almond butter and peanut butter should be sugar-free (it’s still delicious) and it will last in your refrigerator for many late nights.
Meal Prepping Snacks
If you have time to meal prep the bulk of your meals, consider adding healthy snacks to your meal prep menu if you still feel unsatisfied.
Aside from the quick items on this list, you can consider making muffins, energy balls, egg muffins, and even chia puddings. Those are also great options for reducing sugar consumption and staying full.