[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/sweet-healthy-snacks\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/sweet-healthy-snacks\/","headline":"Sweet Snacking Made Simple With Sports Nutrition","name":"Sweet Snacking Made Simple With Sports Nutrition","description":"These energizing and healthy snacks are fun, simple, and sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.\u00a0\u00a0 If you have kids, we think they\u2019ll love joining in to help make, and of course partake in, these tiny treats. Many of the ingredients you may already have at home (one recipe is actually made with leftovers), but if […]","datePublished":"2020-04-07","dateModified":"2022-06-01","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-485922984.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/iStock-485922984.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/sweet-healthy-snacks\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":557,"articleBody":"These energizing and healthy snacks are fun, simple, and sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.\u00a0\u00a0If you have kids, we think they\u2019ll love joining in to help make, and of course partake in, these tiny treats. Many of the ingredients you may already have at home (one recipe is actually made with leftovers), but if not, shopping for these healthy ingredients can help you pass up the candy aisle. It\u2019s worth it since you\u2019re getting such a sweet, nutritious treat out of it \u2014 something that helps boost your mood and workout performance, rather than making you feel guilty about indulging in it.\u00a0Frozen Banana BitesThese can serve as a healthy dessert or just as a little energy boost throughout the day. Find the recipe card and details below: Ingredients:1 cup of peanut butter4 bananas, sliced into 1-inch rounds1 cup chocolate chips2 tbsp coconut oilDirections:Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together in the microwave. Once melted, let the mixture cool to room temperature. Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Spoon a thin layer of peanut butter on top of each banana slice and insert a toothpick into each one. Coat each bite with chocolate and let it freeze for a least 30 minutes. Enjoy! Mini Pancake Triple Threat Sandwich\u00a0Have leftover pancakes from breakfast? You can use them as an energy boost later in the day.Ingredients:2 mini whole-grain pancakes1-2 tbsp of Greek yogurt1 sliced banana\u00bd cup sliced strawberries\u00bd cup raspberriesDirections:Heat up 2 mini whole-grain pancakes. Spread 1 to 2 tbsp of nonfat Greet yogurt on each pancake slice. Add \u00bd of the sliced banana to each pancake, as well as sliced strawberries and raspberries. Fold\/roll your pancakes, and you have an energy boost in a sandwich. Voil\u00e0! Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight OatsOur third sweet sports bite is a simple recipe that can be prepared the night before to help energize you before an early morning virtual workout. Overnight oats are filling and sweet enough to give you the boost you need to get moving. Check out this recipe card and tips for making: Ingredients:\u00bd cup rolled oats2 tbsp peanut or almond butter1 tsp cocoa powder1 tsp vanilla extract2 tsp honey or maple syrup\u00bd cup milk of choiceA dash of saltOptional: flax meal, chia seeds, or shredded coconutDirections:Combine all ingredients in a jar and stir well. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy in the morning. See, simple! Almond Butter and Banana Chia Seed PuddingThis recipe makes enough to serve four\u2014so the whole family can enjoy! Of course, if you\u2019re social distancing and live alone, you can keep this in the refrigerator for a while and spread out the portions all for yourself (1 cup per serving). Find the recipe card and details below:  Ingredients: 5 very ripe bananas1 \u00bd cups chocolate milk (or alternative)\u00bd cup creamy almond butter4 tbsp chia seeds4 tbsp chocolate chipsDirections:In a blender, puree the banana, milk, and almond butter. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the chia seeds. Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours. Spoon one cup of pudding into a bowl and top with one tablespoon of chocolate chips. Finally, dig in!Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 7, 2020, and was last reviewed on June 1, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"04","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/04\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Sweet Snacking Made Simple With Sports Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/04\/sweet-healthy-snacks\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]