Stress + Salty, Crunchy Sugar Snaps

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I've neglected this space over the last month and let myself slip into a spiral of stress, followed by more stress, followed by not sleeping. Wedding planning has ramped up and projects at work have become so numerous that I have at least 7 various spreadsheets staring at me throughout the day. The stifling heatwave we've been experiencing on the East Coast has only added to what ultimately feels like a sense of drowning. Projects, money, insane temperature and humidity levels.... Even stopping to take slow breaths is hard right now. The weather is suffocating. 

I hate to admit this, I really do, but I am terrible at managing stress. I get what I need to done but it's always, always at the cost of self care. Because it's a month before my wedding, I need to pull it together. It's that simple. No more excuses, no more sugary snacks, no more missed workouts.  

Stress + Sugar + No Exercise = CRASH

I don't have time to crash right now.

Ever felt this way? I'm sure you have. We've all been there. 

My office is full of protein bars, chips, and cookies. Although these options are delicious, the unhealthy factor of them adds up quickly.  In times of stress I'm someone who reaches for a cookie instead of a healthy salad. Instead of staying hydrated with water I down iced coffee to keep myself going. All this to say- it's time to stop and reassess. The status quo isn't working. Even protein bars aren't intended for someone who spends most of their day staring at a screen. The sugar content alone in a single Clif or Kind bar is through the roof. They're meant for active lifestyles- perfect for a hike, not so great for when you're hungry and writing a report. 

In an effort to get back to normal, I decided to rework a favorite snack recipe from a few years ago. Sugar snap peas are a great alternative and a staple in my fridge during the Summer months. These brightly colored legumes are loaded with protein, fibre, and iron which makes them a great way to boost energy during the workday and super affordable. They're fresh, green, and just looking at them makes me feel like I'm doing my body good. They're also fantastic for building immunity against those pesky summer colds! 

I've been making a big batch at the end of the weekend, throwing them in sandwich bag, then stashing in my purse every morning for all day nibbles. Here's how I fix them:

  1. Bring a pot of water to boil. 
  2. Trim the ends off snap peas OR if you don't mind them, leave as is. 
  3. Drop sugar snaps in for no more than 3-5 min.
  4. Drain and transfer to bowl of ice water. 
  5. Throw in a sandwich bag with a sprinkle of salt/pepper (bit of grated Parmesan is great too) and enjoy! I've also enjoyed sprinkling Paprika for added flavor. 

* You can also freeze for later use in salads or sauteed as a side dish. Just place on a baking sheet in freezer for 1 hour, then transfer to freezer bag for storage for up to 5 months.

I'll be back with more posts soon, I promise. Turns out managing stress is a project in itself. Any tips for doing so, greatly appreciated. Leave them in the comments below!