Monday 1 October 2012

Lecture mix

I didn't expect that being a student nurse would make me so hungry.  I spend the entire time at on campus with a growling stomach, wondering when it's next time to eat.  And it's not just me -  my new friends are all the same.  Being a student nurse gives you a huge appetite, it seems.

Many of our lectures, practicals and tutorials run back to back with no break.  Often they are scheduled over lunchtime too.  The hunt is on for snacks that we can eat discretely in lectures, and food that we can shovel into our mouths with no mess or fuss as we dash through the building to the labs.  This is our list of snacks we've tried and rejected so far:
  • crisps - too noisy, and not healthy if you eat them all the time
  • apples - too noisy, and where do you put the soggy core?
  • bananas - too stinky, and where do you put the skin?
  • croissant - crumbs all over your notebook and the notebook of anyone sitting within three seats of you
  • cake - too sticky
Then this weekend inspiration struck.  I made a big batch of trail mix for Olivia's lunchbox, and realised that it would work perfectly as a lecture mix too.

Trail mix is a combination of seeds, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate that is designed to fuel you on long distance walks (or trails, hence the name).  Those delicious boxes from Graze are basically trail mix.  Of course the beauty of it is that you custom your mix to what you have in your kitchen and what you like to eat - I also have to leave nuts out of anything I make for Olivia's lunchbox because her school has a strict no nuts policy.

The batch I made at the weekend had in it:
  • pumpkin seeds
  • sunflower seeds
  • sultanas
  • dried apricots, chopped to the size of the sultanas
  • mini marshmallows
I make enough to fill a large 1 litre jar, and whoever wants some can shake a few handfuls into a little pot.

Other good things I like to put in my trail mix if I have them are:
  • chocolate buttons or chocolate chips
  • dried banana chips
  • dried figs
  • dried cranberries
  • salted peanuts
  • cashew nuts
  • bombay mix
  • dried, sour cherries
  • rice krispies
Trail mix - for lectures at lunchtime
 
Let's see if this will get me through three hours of back to back biology and anatomy lectures without my stomach growling.

8 comments:

  1. Yum, think I may go see what we have in our cupboards that I can use what a brilliant idea, thanks

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  2. yum, sounds perfect, and Sue's comment is a great hint, E has a scout expedition coming up soon, time to get mixing!

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  3. yup, thats a winner for sure. I am a big fan of pumpkin seeds for energy and a full tummy, have you tried dried apple rings as a seperate snack? sounds odd to say but it expands when it gets wet so fills you up quicker. Odd indeed. You know what I mean though!Not smelly or noisy either!x

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  4. I love Graze boxes but home made trail mix is a cheaper alternative.

    I hope you're enjoying your course despite the punishing schedule.

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  5. trail mix sounds the perfect solution. And have you thought about drinking your food- soups or smoothies?

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  6. This is a great idea and something that I have started to do too. I tried the graze boxes but they didn't have enough chocolate buttons!!! Have you heard of Chex that the Americans use? They look like mini shreddies and they bake them in the oven with metlted chocolate and mix a whole host of different things in the mix: pretzels, mini marshmallows, m&m's, nuts etc. They are probably not quite so healthy as your trail mix though!

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  7. I make pseudo-trail mix for my littlest to get her through school assemblies and services for the elder two! She's a big fan of the rice crispies and the mini marshmallows, and I also throw in bucketfuls of cheerios, her very favourite. I hope the studies are going well!

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  8. I am SO glad I found your blog! I'm also a student! And I was pre-med before switching over to Biology, I saw your Anatomy notes and I could only smile, I have been there!! It's not always easy, but it's so worth it! Good luck with your future studies and I look forward to seeing you advance! Tammy xx

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