It’s National Snack Food Month: Perfect For Olive Oil Lovers!

Add A Splash Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil To Your Quick Snacks

^{Updated February 21st 2023}

Snacks are a great addition to any diet, especially when you’re on the go and did you know how many healthy snacks can be made with extra virgin olive oil?

At Morocco Gold, we love a themed month and February is the perfect month to celebrate the place in a healthy diet for nutrient packed and easy to make snacks. If planned properly, as well as satisfying cravings, they can help you manage your weight and keep your metabolism in check. So, let’s take advantage of National Snack Month in February and choose the best snacks to increase your intake of proteins, fiber, and fruits.

Snacking With Extra Virgin Olive Oil

With National Snack Month in full swing, it’s the perfect time to rethink the snacks you have on hand. An extra virgin olive oil-based snack is an excellent addition to anyone looking for a tasty, but healthy alternative. Extra virgin olive oil is not only packed with flavor, but also provides many health benefits such as improved heart health and reduced inflammation. Next time you go snack shopping, consider extra virgin olive oil as part of your arsenal of healthy snacks – your body will thank you later!  When used in lieu of butter or other fats in snacks like popcorn and baked treats, extra virgin olive oil can help boost their nutrition content while enhancing their taste.

Ideas For Healthy Snacks With Olive Oil

Olive oil is a good source of energy and can help kids concentrate throughout the day. It is also packed with healthy antioxidants and nutrients that can support overall health. When used in place of other less healthy ingredients, olive oil can help make snacks more nutritious while still being delicious. So as parents stock up on back-to-school supplies, they should also consider adding extra virgin olive oil to their shopping list.

Popcorn With Olive Oil

Olive oil is a healthy alternative to other oils and fats. It is high in monounsaturated fats, which can help to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Olive oil is also a good source of antioxidants, which can protect against cell damage.

There are many healthy snacks that can be made with olive oil. Popcorn is a great option – simply drizzle some olive oil over popped popcorn for a light, healthy snack. Ice cream can also be made with olive oil – simply substitute olive oil for butter or other fats in your favorite recipe.

Here is some simple guidance for making popcorn with olive oil.

Traybakes With Olive Oil

A good quality olive oil is a great substitute for saturated fats when it comes to preparing some healthy tray bakes for back to school. This tasty lemon and orange olive oil traybake is a great choice for keeping hungry children well fuelled during school.

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C (fan). Grease and line the base and sides of a brownie tin – I used my 23cm x 15cm roasting tin – with baking parchment.
2. In a large bowl beat the oil and sugar with an electric whisk until pale and frothy – roughly 5 mins
3. Mix together the almonds, flour and baking powder, and beat some of this into the butter-sugar mixture, followed by 1 egg, then alternate dry ingredients and eggs, beating all the while.
4. Finally, beat in the lemon zest and scrape the mixture into your prepared tin.
5. Bake in the oven for about 30 – 40 minutes – the cake is cooked if a skewer comes out clean. The edges of the cake will begin to shrink away from the sides of the tin. Remove from the oven to a wire cooling rack, but leave in its tin and prick all over with a skewer.

Whilst it’s baking, make the syrup by boiling together the lemon juice and icing sugar in a smallish saucepan or microwave and then once the cake is out of the oven and pricked all over, pour the warm syrup over the cake. I like to sprinkle it all over with a little more caster sugar to give it a crunchy top. Leave it to cool before taking it out of its tin, then slice into squares.

Other Healthy Back To School Habits For Nutrition

For children, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential for achieving success in school. Good nutrition gives them the energy they need to focus and stay concentrated during long hours of learning. But what other important healthy habits is it great to establish at the start of the new term?

Exercise is also important for brain health, and it can help to improve memory and decision-making skills.

Getting enough sleep is another crucial component of back to school success. Sleep gives the brain time to rest and rejuvenate, and it helps children to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to learn. By teaching children healthy habits now, we can set them up for a lifetime of success.