Sai Latha, an organic food advocate, shares three healthy, nutrient-rich snack recipes

Brown Channa Fudge
(5 servings)

Ingredients

• 1 large bowl of boiled brown channa
• 12-15 deseeded dates
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 100 gm melted dark chocolate
• 1 tbsp ghee
• ½ cup roasted nuts

Preparation guide

• Blend boiled brown channa, dates, and cocoa powder in a mixer/blender. Blend to make a smooth paste.
• Apply ghee on a baking/cake tray.
• Spread the paste mix in the cake tray evenly.
• Pour melted dark chocolate on top. (Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Or place the chocolate in a bowl inside a pan with water and heat it).
• Garnish with roasted nuts. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• Cut fudge into pieces and serve.

Health benefits: Brown channa is rich in protein, dates in iron and fibre, and nuts in protein and healthy fats. This protein-rich snack provides quick energy and ghee promotes digestion.

Puffed Millet Mixture
(7 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup roasted almonds
• 1 cup roasted cashews
• 1 cup fried gram dal
• 1 cup roasted ground nuts
• ½ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup roasted sunflower seeds
• Salt to taste
• 3 tbsp chilli powder
• 1 tbsp jeera powder
• 2 tbsp chaat masala
• 2 tbsp turmeric powder
• 200 gm puffed jowar
• 200 gm puffed bajra
• 200 gm puffed ragi
• Handful of fried curry leaves
• 3 tbsp ghee

Preparation guide

• Mix all roasted nuts in a large bowl.
• Heat puffed millets on low flame in a pan until they are crisp.
• Add crispy puffed millets to the roasted nuts bowl.
• Add all spices, salt and ghee.
• Mix well and serve.

Health benefits: This is a healthy snack rich in fibre, iron, protein and healthy fats.

Protein Rich Poha
(4 servings)

Ingredients

• 1 cup red flattened rice
• 1 cup boiled kabuli channa
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 1 finely chopped carrot
• 1 finely chopped capsicum
• 1 finely chopped tomato
• 2 finely chopped green chillies
• 1 inch finely chopped ginger
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 pinch turmeric powder
• 3 tbsp ground nuts
• ½ tsp cumin, mustard seeds and curry leaves
• 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Preparation guide

• Heat oil in a pan on medium flame.
• Add cumin and mustard seeds. Let them splutter, then add curry leaves, onion, green chillies and ginger. Fry until onions are light brown.
• Add chopped vegetables, turmeric and salt. Cook well.
• Add boiled channa. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Soak red flattened rice in water for 5 minutes. Drain.
• Add red flattened rice to the pan and mix well with veggies. Cook for 2 minutes.
• Add lemon juice. Mix well before serving.

Tip: Add roasted nuts such as cashews, sunflower, pumpkin and melon seeds for added nutrition.

Health benefits: This snack is rich in protein, fibre, and vitamins. Vegetables provide vitamin C for better nutrient absorption, while nuts provide healthy fats, protein and vitamin E.