Oatcakes topped with bananas
Busy social lives, hectic work schedules and family activities can make it hard to find the time to eat a balanced meal.
Despite 76 per cent of British adults claiming to be passionate about food and cooking, consumers are skipping an average of around three meals a week in attempts to save time and money.
These on-the-go lifestyles often cause Brits to end up gorging on foods high in fat, sugar and salt, which can leave you feeling hungry again soon after and are no good for your health or your waistline. In fact, research shows that one in seven British women (around four million) eat five or more sugary and salty snacks each day.
With this in mind, All About Oats has developed a number of easy-to-prepare, healthy alternative oatcake snacks. Using a combination of oatcakes and different toppings, each snack has been designed to help people tackle what lies ahead in their day (or recover from it) – be it a gym workout, the stress of a job interview, breastfeeding a new-born baby or preparing for a night out on the town.
Oatcakes are a healthy, wholegrain snack and their benefits include:
- Oats are a wholegrain food containing fibre and are typically low GI, so can help to keep you feeling fuller for longer
- Oats are packed full of nutrients including B vitamins, vitamin E and iron
- Oats are a natural source of a soluble fibre called beta-glucan that has been shown to actively lower cholesterol as part of a low fat diet and healthy lifestyle, which in turn may help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
At approximately 200 calories or less, the following snacks are quick and inexpensive to make, and offer a healthy and delicious change to the usual crisps, biscuits, sweets and chocolate, high in salt, fat and sugar.
SNACK: Two oatcakes topped with sliced bananas, chopped walnuts and a drizzle of honey
IDEAL FOR: Preparing for a stressful day/combatting tiredness and fatigue
WHY? Hard weeks with dozens of deadlines at work, school runs, a fitness regime and home chores can take their toll. Recent studies show 68 per cent of Brits crave a less stressful lifestyle and 37 per cent of British adults are suffering from stress mainly due to money or work worries. Eating the right foods can help alleviate stress and tackle fatigue and this snack is a great way to kick-start the day. The B vitamins, riboflavin, B6 and folate, can help reduce tiredness and fatigue as well as the minerals, 
iron and magnesium. These nutrients can be found in wholegrains such as the oats in these oatcakes. B6 is also found in bananas, as well as in walnuts, which also provide magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids.
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SNACK: Two oatcakes topped with hummus, chopped cherry tomatoes and sliced roast turkey
IDEAL FOR: Warming down after exercise
WHY? A carbohydrate-based snack such as this after exercise is important to help replenish your muscle stores, including some protein, which can help maintain muscle strength.
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SNACK: Two oatcakes topped with sliced cucumber, tinned salmon and a squeeze of lemon
IDEAL FOR: Aiding concentration/memory
WHY? Whether it is a school exam, driving test or a way to help your child focus in the classroom, a healthy diet is important. This simple lunchbox snack is ideal to help stimulate and nurture your child’s memory and attention-span. It is great as wholegrains, including oats, provide the brain with energy in the form of glucose, helping maintain concentration levels throughout the day. Also, salmon (along with other oily fish) is a rich source of essential omega-3 fatty acids that are high in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which can help maintain normal brain function and concentration.
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SNACK: Two oatcakes topped with low fat crème fraiche, sliced strawberries and blackberries and fresh mint
IDEAL FOR: Helping with cold/flu recovery
WHY? With the average British adult suffering two to five colds a year foods rich in vitamin C such as berries and citrus fruits can help contribute to a healthy immune system and strengthen the defences. Tuck into this easy-to-prepare snack to help ward off lurgies and speed up recovery.
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SNACK: Two oatcakes topped with lean sliced roast ham, sliced avocado and grated carrot
IDEAL FOR: Protecting your skin
WHY? As testament to the old adage, ‘you are what you eat’, a balanced, healthy diet helps to boost skin from within. This tasty treat provides some zinc, iron, magnesium, vitamin B2 and riboflavin, all essential to helping your skin glow and vitamin E, helping protect the body cells from oxidative damage.