It's a spooky season with midterms and semester projects creeping up! In this blog post, we're going to be sharing our favorite study snacks.
Study Snack 1: Green Tea
Although probably not what first comes to your mind when thinking about snacking, here are three reasons why green tea is great.
1. Green tea is packed with benefits! Polyphenols act as antioxidants, which help counter the damaging effects of free radicals in the body. It also has L-theanine and moderate caffeine levels, which, when working in combination, can enhance cognitive performance!
2. In general, staying hydrated is always recommended. A lot of the time, we think we're hungry when really we're thirsty. I prefer the added flavor of green tea over tap water. Also, it's just a nice warming beverage for your study sesh!
Tip: If you don't like the taste of plain green tea, try a naturally-flavored tea, such as berry green tea or lemon and ginger tea.
Study Snack 2: Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
While this snack doesn't have quite the same crunchy addictiveness as chips, it's definitely a lot healthier! Chickpeas offer a good balance of fats, proteins, and fiber to tide your appetite as you study. Also, this recipe is very customizable as you can explore which spice blends you like!
Ingredients
One 15-oz can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1.5 Tablespoon of Spices
Option 1: cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt,
Option 2: cinnamon and chili powder
Option 3: rosemary, salt, pepper
Option 4: curry powder
Steps
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Strain the chickpeas and rinse well, draining as much water as possible. Lay the chickpeas on a paper towel or dishcloth, and pat dry to absorb the water. For crispier chickpeas, roll the towel over the beans to remove the thin skins (this step is optional, but it will further eliminate moisture when baking).
Once fully dry, line a baking sheet and place the chickpeas in the oven to roast for 15 minutes (avoid crowding the baking sheet, especially if doubling the recipe).
Remove chickpeas from the oven and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over the spices, making sure they are evenly coated. Place them back into the oven and roast for another 10-15 minutes (you may need more or less time, just keep an eye on them, so they don't burn).
When done, turn off the oven and keep its door slightly open as it cools down. The chickpeas will be crunchiest following roasting but can be stored for a few days at room temperature.
Study Snack 3: Caprese Salad
If you're looking for a light snack, then this is a great option! To make it more study friendly, we recommend Caprese salad skewers/sticking them on a toothpick.
Ingredients
Cherry tomatoes
Mozzarella balls (or cut up string cheese)
Fresh basil
Balsamic Glaze (or balsamic vinegar)
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
Steps
Cut tomatoes in half.
Assemble on said skewer/toothpick: cheese, basil, tomato, repeat
Mix in a bowl 2 parts balsamic: 1 part olive oil and add salt and pepper to taste
When you're ready to eat, dip the skewer into the dressing!
Study Snack 4: Trail Mix
While you could simply buy trail mix, I find these mixes always have at least 2 ingredients I don't really like and are loaded with salt and oil. Therefore, making your own is a great option! My optimal ratio is:
2 part nuts of choice (almonds, cashews, pecans)
1 part dark chocolate
1 part dried fruit (craisins, dried apricots, dried apples)