Pretzels and carrot sticks get old. We’ve got some new healthy snack ideas for you, and Vanderbilt Men’s Tennis Head Coach shows us how to make one.
It’s important for student-athletes and non-athletes alike to keep their energy levels up and food is one of the best ways to do it, said Vanderbilt University Men’s Tennis Coach Scott Brown.
In the latest segment of Cooking With Coach, a collaboration between Vanderbilt Health and Vanderbilt University Athletics, we go in the kitchen with Coach Brown and talk tennis while cooking up roasted chickpeas – perfect for a light but filling snack.
Watch our latest Cooking With Coach and learn about Coach Brown’s journey from Vanderbilt athlete to coach, and how he’s gone from former high school rivals with VU Women’s Tennis Coach Aleke Tsoubanos to coaching besties.
Roasted Chickpeas
For a crunchy and (lightly) salted snack, roast some chickpeas. One cup of chickpeas provides fiber, protein and iron, among other important nutrients.
Ingredients:
12-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt (optional)
Garlic salt (optional)
Cayenne pepper (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Blot chickpeas with a paper towel to dry them.
- In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil and season to taste with salt, garlic salt and cayenne pepper, if using.
- Spread on a baking sheet, and bake 30 to 40 minutes, until browned and crunchy. Watch carefully the last few minutes to avoid burning.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Serves: 4. Calories: 161. Fat: 7.7 grams. Saturated fat: 1 gram. Protein: 4.2 grams. Carbohydrates: 19.3 grams. Fiber: 3.8 grams. Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 434 milligrams.
Source: Allrecipes
2 more healthy (and delicious!) afternoon-snack ideas
And as a bonus, here are two other healthy (and delicious!) afternoon-snack ideas.
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Skip the marshmallow sweet potato recipe this time. These chips offer you the nutrients of the tasty vegetable while still satisfying your need to snack.
Ingredients:
2 organic sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and position oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Rinse and dry your sweet potatoes thoroughly and slice them as uniformly thin as possible. If you have a mandoline, use it. Otherwise, use a very sharp knife to get these uniformly thin. Know that chips that are too thick in parts won’t crisp up all the way. Still delicious, just not “chip” crispiness.
- Toss slices in a touch of olive oil to lightly coat, then sprinkle with salt. Lay out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake about 2 hours, flipping chips once at halfway point to ensure even cooking. Rotate pan for more even results (optional but recommended).
- Remove once crisp and golden brown. Some may feel a little tender in the middle but take them out and let them rest 10 minutes or so to crisp up before sampling. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Serves: 3. Calories: 198. Fat: 9.5 grams. Saturated fat: 1.4 grams. Protein: 1.5 grams. Carbohydrates: 27 grams. Fiber: 4 grams. Cholesterol: 0 milligrams. Sodium: 9 milligrams.
Source: Minimalist Baker
Hard-boiled Eggs
Easy to prep on the weekend, this go-to snack is filling and packed with nutritional benefits. Keep some hot sauce handy to spice it up a bit.
Ingredients:
6 eggs
Directions:
- Place eggs in a pot; add enough water to cover. Place on high heat; just bring to a boil, then cover pot with a lid and move pot to a cool burner. Let the covered pot sit 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill a large bowl halfway with cold water; transfer the eggs from the pot to the cold water. Replace the water with cold water as needed until eggs are completely cooled.
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Serves: 6. Calories: 72. Fat: 5 grams. Saturated fat: 1.5 gram. Protein: 6.3 grams. Carbohydrates: .4 grams. Fiber: 0 grams. Cholesterol: 186 milligrams. Sodium: 70 milligrams.
Source: Allrecipes
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