After a long day of hard work at school, it is important to replenish your body with nutritious foods in the form of an afterschool snack. While the cafeteria is filled with quick, easy options such as a bag of processed chips or pretzels, these simple choices are often ineffective at providing the vital energy needed for afterschool activities such as sports or other extracurriculars. This is why, for my third article in my health and wellness column Bee Healthy, I have decided to write about some healthy afterschool snack ideas that will provide a balance between satisfying hunger and nourishing the body to improve one’s focus, energy, and health.
First, we must consider the necessity of having a well-rounded meal that will be beneficial for your mind and body. There are four general nutrients that your snack should contain: protein will aid in muscle repair and growth, healthy fats promote brain health and high energy levels, fiber supports digestive and gut health, and vitamins and minerals can support a wide variety of bodily functions. The most effective snack will hit each of these nutrients and support your body until the next full meal at dinner. It may seem intimidating to find snack options that meet this criteria, so I decided to ask some Seven Hills students for their favorite healthy snack ideas to make this process much easier and more satisfying for your next afterschool cravings.
Senior Fiona O’Driscoll has a lot of favorite after-school snacks that fit into these categories. O’Driscoll said, “Recently I’ve been loving Ninja creamis, greek yogurt with granola and fruit, a sandwich with chicken and veggies, some eggs and avocado, really anything that is going to keep me full for my after-school activities.” She often has an apple or a meat stick if she is on the go, but she enjoys having a sit-down meal where she can ensure that she is hitting each of her four priorities: carbs, fats, protein, and fiber. O’Driscoll said, “I would just stay away from anything that is going to make your energy levels crash. If you want a sweet treat, maybe try to balance it out with something that is going to keep you full for longer, or else your blood sugar is just going to crash.”
Junior Brenden Mclaughlin also has some healthy snack ideas. Mclaughlin said, “My favorite snacks are cheese and crackers, bananas with peanut butter, protein bars, or a mango smoothie.” He is often busy with bowling afterschool, so he likes to pack a snack with some of these nutritious items to keep him full. Mclaughlin said, “I love protein shakes, especially the strawberry ones.” His favorite combination is a protein shake with a turkey sandwich, and he finds that this can keep him full until dinner time after practice.
The food that you put into your body can determine your whole mood for the day! It is important that you are cautious about what you eat and ensure that you are getting enough from each food group to keep yourself healthy. I hope this guide helped you and gave you some more ideas to try the next time you are having an afterschool craving!
