GCSE healthy satisfying snacks

[chillinchill]

dd is preparing for her exams and is feeling the pressure she has started eating to calm her nerves, mostly chocolate, hot chocolate and ice cream or crisps or hula hoops. She eats otherwise quite healthy. She feels too preoccupied to go running and is upset that she has gained a tiny bit of weight due to snacking on sweets and less exercise.

I think she does need some nerve food but healthy stuff, so buts, popcorn and maybe some home made ice cream and health home made treats but no idea where to start?

Do a little snack box / plate of a combo:
Apple slices / grapes
cucumber / carrot sticks or cherry tomatoes
cheese cubes
hula hoops
nuts (or could have a little lot of PB with the apple slices)
popcorn (separate so it doesn’t go soggy)
maybe a little pot of hummus or roasted chick peas
could also add a few m&ms or skittles or similar

Love this, do you buy roasted chick peas or roast them yourself? What's best?

Roast them yourself - just spray oil and in a single layer in the oven with some salt / spices if you want
make sure they’re dry first so they go crispy

I love @Nopayrise's suggestion.

Protein is really good as well – would she eat cold chicken (I mean is she veggie?) or hard boiled egg? I mean I know there is protein in the snack pate suggested :)

You know when your DC are doing GCSEs your main role is as snack provider. Mine was anyway. But yes if she is bothered about weight then healthier is better.

It's a shame she feels she can't run as if she normally does this it's a great release. Could she justify it by listening to French vocab (or whatever) on her phone as she runs? A break to exercise is really important.

My dd likes Love Corn, Graze, granola, trail mix, grapes, tangerines, strong mint hard sweets, carrot sticks, flavoured rice cakes, rice crackers, bread sticks and hummus, pretzels, bagel with cream cheese, sliced cucumbers, pickle, those little pots of anchovy paste on sourdough.

“Posh fizzy water” and chamomile tea also hit the spot (plain water is boring!)

She also likes fresh pineapple - I shudder at the air miles but I do indulge her sometimes.

You can make some homemade nut/oat bars? Plenty of recipes online - the ones I make don’t even need baking, just pressing into a tin and drizzling dark chocolate on top.

To be honest, running would really help calm her nerves so I’d encourage that, even if it’s only half hour. She could even listen to audio revision guides while she’s doing it, if she’s worried about missing time.

Take a look at 5 oclock apron, she has some great recipes for this exact situation

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWTcvwEjG2r/?igsh=MXN0c2ZhdnR2azh0bQ==

Mine peanut butter and apple, or apple and cheese, Greek yogurt

Roasted Chickpeas might also help?