Hey all!

Exam season is upon us, and so that means late nights, too much coffee and nothing but Ramen noodles. Lets try to make something other than instant noodles, hot dogs, chicken finger, frozen pizzas etc. Here are two healthy snacks that you can make large batches of and keep on hand.

Chile Almonds: 

The perfect balance between sweet and spicy, these roasted nuts are the ideal protein-rich snack to keep in your bag when you’re on the go.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk 1 egg white until very foamy, about 1 minute. Stir in 2 tsp cane sugar and 2 tsp chile powder. Add 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds and toss to coat thoroughly. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. With a slotted spoon, transfer almond to sheet, spreading evenly. Discard remaining egg mixture. Bake until fragrant and toasted. 12-14 minutes, keeping a close eye to prevent burning. Carefully lift parchment with almonds from sheet and transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely , about 30 minutes. Remove almonds from parchment. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Chocolate Banana Bonbons:

Forget about ice cream! These creamy, chocolaty treats will conquer your craving or an indulgent frozen snack – but they’re low in fat and sugar!

Heat a small saucepan on medium. Add 2oz 70% cocoa dark chocolate chips or chopped chocolate and melt, stirring often, until smooth, about 2-5 minutes; watch closely to prevent chocolate from burning. Slice 2 bananas, peeled into 0.5-inch-thick rounds. Dip 1 side of each round into chocolate and transfer (chocolate side up) to a medium baking sheet. Freeze until chocolate hardens and bananas are frozen through about 1 hr. Serve immediately or transfer to a large zip-lock bag or airtight container and freeze for up to a month.

Well, here’s to a healthy and and successful exam period and summer!

Caitlin