Snacking is something I thoroughly promote and believe is essential in your diet. As an athlete making sure your blood sugar levels remain steady is really important for sustained energy and optimal performance, plus who doesn’t love a nibble now and then! Like all the food I create, snacks are something I always make knowing they will benefit me best at a specific time of day. For example in the mornings for an energy boost, I’ll snack on a berry smoothie, raw fruit and nut bars or large cold-pressed fruit and vegetable juices whereas in the afternoon I’ll nibble on something protein-rich with less natural sugars such as roasted sweet potato drizzled in almond butter, oatcakes, kale chips, protein bars, protein smoothies, green smoothies and trail mixes with lots of nuts and seeds. The reason I prefer to eat starchy fruit in the morning is that it energises you before a long day working, and you have all the day to utilise that energy. In the afternoon or post-workout, your body doesn’t need as much instant energy and thrives more off protein-rich foods such as nuts and seeds – just a handful is perfect and will give your cells tons of healthy Omegas and Amino acids (the building blocks of protein).

Cue this week’s recipe! This recipe for sweet & sticky tamari roasted nuts – is perfect for all occasions. I love throwing it in a trail mix, garnishing a salad with them, or nibbling on them at a dinner party before we sit down to eat. They’re delicious and so versatile! The nuts supply plenty of protein, healthy oils and vitamin E which is great for your skin. They are perfect post-workout as the fibre content will keep you full, and the protein will help your muscles recover.

The marinade is what really makes the nuts delicious – a mixture of tamari (wheat-free soy sauce) and a little drizzle of pure maple/agave or date syrup, you can also use raw honey. This combination is pretty incredible! The slight saltiness and sweetness are great to replenish all those electrolytes if you’ve been expending lots of energy.