Healthy Snacks to Bring with You to the Golf Course

If you’re like countless other women who like to spend several hours at a time on the back nine of your favorite golf course, then you may find your stomach rumbling about the time you make it through the fifth hole. You should never ignore that nagging feeling in your stomach though, or you’ll surely feel your energy waning as your quest for the perfect game comes to an end.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, bring some healthy snacks with you in your perfectly sized Savvy Girl golf bag. Recipe for the Strawberry-Cinnamon Muffins pictured above follows:

Strawberry-Cinnamon Muffins

Makes 12 Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten (or use egg substitute, like we do)

1/2 cup oil

1 cup thawed, sliced strawberries, slightly mashed (or use fresh strawberries)

Combine all ingredients and use mixer on medium speed to mix until batter is smooth and well-blended.  Bake at 350º for 30 minutes until muffins test done.  Enjoy on the golf course, or as a dessert or other snack!!

Other snacks to take with you on the golf course…

Water
Most people don’t think of water as a snack, but individuals often confuse their feelings of thirst for hunger. Dehydration can and will lead to fatigue and concentration problems, and your golf game will surely suffer.
To keep yourself well hydrated, make sure to continually sip on a water bottle throughout your game. If you’re conscious about your health, then go for a stainless steel bottle as well to reduce your exposure to BPA commonly found in plastic varieties.

Nuts
If you like to spend your time enjoying nature and walking the full 18 holes of the golf course, then you may actually walk over 5.5 miles in a single day. Not only will your legs see a great deal of activity, but your shoulders, arms, torso, and lower back will as well.
All of the muscles you work need protein for strength, endurance, and tissue rebuilding. This means that a quick protein-rich snack is a great idea. Peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and flaxseeds are all great sources of protein, and easy to carry as well. Bring a few ounces of your favorite nut or seed with you, or better yet, add a mixture to your golf bag.

Whole Grain Crackers
As you walk the course and try to make par on every hole, your body will use up available energy. The sugars from the foods you consumed during breakfast or lunch will be burned first. Afterwards, your blood sugars will drop and you may start to feel tired and faint.
One of the best ways to avoid this is to eat complex carbohydrates before your body’s fuel runs low. These carbohydrates are digested slowly to give you a long lasting boost. This is much different from the sugar rush you get after eating a candy bar or when drinking a sugary soda. Sugars are slowly released into your blood stream and you can enjoy the rest of your game without one of those telltale sugar crashes. Get your carbohydrates by grabbing a handful of whole-wheat crackers or some low sodium pretzels.

Fruit
If you don’t feel like the crackers or pretzels give you the energy boost you need, then think about carrying an apple, banana, or some blueberries with you instead. These fruits contain simple sugars that will energize your body more quickly.  Fortunately, you won’t have to deal with the sugar crash though, because the fibers in the fruit will slow down digestion enough that your blood sugar won’t spike abruptly.