Avoid the 3pm Snack Slump

How often do you hit your mid morning stride and there is a big brick wall between breakfast and lunch, or the dreaded 3pm slump where your energy levels start to drop. Grabbing a bag of chips seems so easy but you have been doing great with your healthy eating plan so you reach for a handful of almonds or grab the apple off your desk and wipe off the dust it has been building up because you have been avoiding eating the same boring snacks every day!

Don't get bored! Switch it up and have some fun with your snacks. Here is a fun healthy snack I whipped up and a few variations to help switch it up throughout the week.

What you will need:

*Food Processor

*Almonds, unsalted

*Pecans

*Grapeseed Oil

*Fat Free, Salt Free Rice Cakes

*Bananas

Place the almonds and pecans in your food processor (feel free to try other nut combinations!), pulse the nuts until they are broken up into small pieces. You are not trying to make almond/pecan flour so once the nuts are broken up start to add the grapeseed oil (coconut oil & flaxseed oil are also great substitutes) one teaspoon at a time. The nut butter will start to form a ball in the food processor when it is done.

Once your nut butter is ready, spread some out on a rice cake and throw on a few pieces of banana for a delicious and energizing snack!

Variations:

*sprinkle some cinnamon on top to spice up the flavors

*instead of banana try topping your nut butter with some unsweetened shredded coconut and dried cherries

*try creating an adult version "ants on a log" by using your nut butter and some dried cherries, cranberries or blueberries 

Fun facts on the ingredients in your new snack:

*Bananas are an amazing source of potassium and an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.

*Almonds are rich in vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Almonds are also a  source of protein and fiber, while being naturally low in sugar.

*Pecans contain more than 19 vitamins and minerals, and research from the USDA shows that pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and rank among the top 15 foods with the highest levels of antioxidants.