Snack-able Superfoods: Make the Most out of the Munchies with these 5 Healthy Munchie Snacks

One of the most well-known effects of cannabis is its ability to stimulate appetite. For many folks, this is great! In fact, this could be the main reason why you have decided to use medical cannabis in the first place. Especially if you are suffering from chronic illness or have just undergone chemotherapy, there is not a substance around that can compare to cannabis for weight gain promotion and appetite stimulation. This effect can be problematic, however, when your go-to food choice is Domino’s pizza, potato chips and ice cream. Eating like this on a regular basis does no one any good, and can lead to some serious health consequences down the road.

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The solution? Plan ahead and plan healthy! If you are going to get the munchies, why not really enjoy it with “no guilt” and total satisfaction in knowing that you are not only enjoying your food, but are also doing something super-healthy for your body as well? It may sound cliché, but food is medicine, whether that food comes as a cannabis edible or a crisp apple.

These Top super munchies are easy to prepare, tasty and contain healing properties as well:

Blueberries

Who doesn’t love a blueberry? They are juicy, sweet and delicious. They are also over-the-top good for you. Like other dark fruits such as raspberries, blackberries and red grapes, blueberries contain high levels of resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant and known cancer-killer. Studies have linked blueberry consumption to an increase in Natural Killer Cells (potent immune system cells), lower cholesterol levels and increased heart health. What’s more, those little morsels are low in sugar, which means they do not contribute to acidity in the body and they do not “feed” cancer cells, since cancer feeds on sugar.

Tip: Put them in the freezer for at least half an hour before you eat them. On a summer day or any time of year, they make a great frozen snack!

Watermelon

Watermelon is about 90 percent water, so it is fat-free and excellent if you want a tasty way to hydrate. It also contains high levels of vitamin A, B6 and C, beta carotene and potassium, all essential for maintaining a robust immune system. Most importantly, however, watermelon contains lycopene, which is a powerful phytonutrient also found in tomatoes, red grapefruit and other red or pink fruits. Lycopene is an anti-oxidant and has been linked to bone health, heart health, digestive balancing and cancer prevention, especially prostate cancer. According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, a 2 cup serving of watermelon has about 15-20 milligrams of lycopene.

Tip: Ever tried watermelon juice? It is simple to make, and the taste is fabulous! Simply put chilled watermelon in your blender, blend until liquid and enjoy over ice. For an extra refreshing treat, throw a few mint leaves in before you blend.

Mango

Mango is sometimes called the “king of fruits,” and for good reason. Not only are they super-sweet and refreshing (nothing tastes quite like a mango!), but the list of super-healing substances contained in the fruit is downright impressive: quercetin, gallic acid, fiber, pectin, vitamin C and vitamin A, just to name a few.

Mangos can help with eye health and prevent dry eye (Vitamin A) and are also cancer preventatives (Quercetin, Gallic Acid, and other substances). Mangos helps to maintain good alkaline/acid balance in the body by the presence of tartaric, malic and trace amounts of citric acid. It can help to clear the skin and lower cholesterol levels.

Of note for those who use medical cannabis is the interesting way that mango interacts with marijuana. Eating a mango or drinking mangos as a juice or in a smoothie an hour or so before consuming cannabis can increase the effects of THC, according to Michael Backes, the author of Cannabis Pharmacy: The Practical Guide to Medical Marijuana…“Mangos contains myrcene, an essential oil that is part of a class of compounds called terpenes. Terpenes are responsible for the strong smell of cannabis and some of its effects. Different varieties of cannabis (and mangoes) produce more myrcene varieties than others. Myrcene is definitely synergistic with THC, the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis.”

Tip: Get creative with cutting your mangos. Slice a chunk off as close to the pit as you can get. Make crisscross cuts from one end of the slice to the other. Then “flip” the mango inside out and (voila!) you will have little pieces you can chew right off the skin. Try sprinkling it with a little lemon juice and cayenne pepper for a more savory experience.

Coconut

Raw, organic coconut is a true superfood, and there are literally hundreds of reasons why you should be consuming it in some way every day (whether you have the munchies or not). Coconut oil in particular is a source of natural saturated fat, mostly in the form of heart-healthy lauric acid. The saturated fat in coconut oil increases healthy cholesterol (HDL) and helps to convert the “bad” kind of cholesterol into the good kind. It soothes digestion and is an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Coconut oil is a medium-chain fatty acid that has also shown to have anti-depressive effects in research studies.

Tip: Want a yummy, satisfying treat that is super good for you? Whip up some coconut gorp! Mix 1 cup cooked, cooled quinoa or millet with 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil, 2-3 tablespoons shredded coconut, 2-3 tablespoons organic cocoa powder and 1-2 tablespoons raw honey (or Stevia if you are following a diabetic diet). Form into balls and put in the freezer for 30 minutes or longer. You can also eat this unfrozen (but if you do, have a napkin handy because it will be messy). You can also get creative and mix in organic chocolate chips, nuts and/or dried fruit to the mix prior to freezing.

Kale Chips

Kale contains organic compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs), which have been shown to cause cancer cell apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer tumors; consuming kale has been linked to lowering the risk for bladder, breast, colon, ovary and prostate cancer in recent studies. Kale also helps the cardiovascular system and the body’s detoxification system. The ITCs have recently been shown to help with detoxification pathways on the genetic level. Kale contains over 40 different kinds of flavonoids, including kaempferol and quercetin, which can help lower inflammation levels and oxidative stress.

The easiest way to create some snack-able kale that will replace that bag of potato chips is to peel the kale leaves away from the stem, slice as desired, toss with a little bit of olive oil and sea salt and pop them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until crunchy (the edges can be slightly brown but not burnt)

Tip: Want to spice your chips up a bit? Add some turmeric and cayenne pepper to the mix, which will also help reduce inflammation (both turmeric and cayenne), reduce pain (cayenne) and prevent cancer (turmeric). Also, if you can use a dehydrator to make your kale chips, all the better as this will preserve more of the kale’s vital nutrients as well as healing enzymes.

Add These Six Treats to Your Snack Shelf Too

Other tasty snacks that are good for you include:

Dark Chocolate: contains resveratrol and antioxidants
Hummus: Hummus is typically made from garbanzo beans, which are high in protein and folate. Try them with celery sticks instead of chips (see below)
Almonds/ Organic Almond Butter: Almonds are high in protein, magnesium and vitamin E
Walnuts: Walnuts are an excellent source of polyunsaturated fats, especially linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid. Walnuts also contain omega-3 fats as well
Celery Sticks: Celery is a great source of antioxidants and good-for-your-gut enzymes. It also contains vitamin K and C as well as potassium, folate and vitamin B6.
Popcorn: Plain popcorn is an excellent source of fiber and a great replacement for chips and crackers. It is a whole grain that contains vital antioxidants. You can also pop them using coconut oil (see above) and use either coconut oil, ghee or grass-fed, organic butter as a topper instead of margarine.

Who says getting the munchies is bad for you? If you stick with foods like the ones above not only will you be benefiting from the appetite stimulation effects of cannabis, you will also be getting an extra health infusion every time you reach for a snack!