The homemade snack that gets a dietitian’s tick of approval

Bonnie Anderson is a singer. The 30-year-old shares her day on a plate.

Credit: Art by ELiza Iredale

5.30am Up and ready for my 6am Pilates class. After arriving back home, I sort out breakfast for my son, who is going through a fussy stage, then have a coffee and make myself an omelette with vegies left in the fridge.

10am I usually start to get a little hungry at about this time, but I need to push through until lunch, so I’ve started squeezing fresh oranges and making a big juice.

12.30pm I love a salad in this warmer weather. Today’s has butter lettuce, chicken, tomato, cucumber, avocado and Meredith’s goats cheese. The dressing is fresh lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper.

3pm I’m always hungry around this time, so I’ll have a healthy homemade bar of dark chocolate, dates, peanuts and peanut butter.

5.30pm We eat early and are usually in bed by around 7.30pm, so dinners are often whatever we have chosen through Hello Fresh. Tonight is grilled chicken and vegetables.

Dr Joanna McMillan says:

Top marks for… Making homemade treats. Your combination of dark chocolate, peanuts and dates is energy dense, so keep the portion size small, and delivers loads of nutrition including good fats, antioxidants, unrefined sugar, magnesium and folate.

If you keep eating like this you’ll… Miss out on the benefits of the higher quantities of fibre found in whole grains and legumes, not to mention a diversity of fibres. You could also benefit from adding a couple of serves of whole fruit to each day.

Why don’t you try… Adding some wholegrain toast with avocado to your breakfast, a small can of mixed beans to your lunch, and either snack on fruit or have a fruit salad for dessert.

Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight, presented by AAMI on Channel 9 and 9Now, airs December 24.

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