I lorrrve snacking. In fact, I love little munchies in between meals more than having main meals. Pre-baby, Nick and I loved staying in to watch a good movie on our couch with lots of snacks on hand. Actually, we still do that now, after the kids have gone to bed.

My daughters, Lauren and Georgia have also picked up on the munching habit. Not that I mind it though, it is in fact a healthy habit and there are many benefits to snacking that most people are unaware of:

1. Eating a healthy snack increases our intake of essential nutrients and fiber.

2. It prevents us from becoming too hungry. We all know what happens when we get ravenous; we reach for unhealthy food and tend to overeat our next meal.

3. Regular snacking helps children and adolescents meet dietary recommendations, especially for young children.

4. (I just learned about this last one.) According to the American Dietetic Association, children are able to comprehend and retain information presented in classroom at a higher rate when their bodies are fueled consistently, while adults may find that eating a small snack in the afternoon gets them through their tasks more quickly and efficiently.

So what’s my snack of choice?

Raisins.

My trusty blogging companion. Could. Not. Stop. Munching.

Which is why I’m excited to be collaborating with Sun-Maid Raisins on this post.

You see, I have a long relationship with Sun-Maid as a consumer. I remember when I was very little, my mother would buy a pack of Sun-Maid raisins for me every time I accompanied her to the market. I wasn’t very fond of going to the wet market to be honest, but I loved getting a packet of raisins as a reward.

During my modeling days, I snacked on raisins backstage when we were all made-up and waiting for the show to start.

Fast forward to more than a decade later, I gave both my daughters Sun-Maid Raisins as their very first snack.

It’s 100% natural, preservative free, packed with essential nutrients and oh-so-convenient. I always have a few packets with me for just in case.

Kids get cranky sitting in the stroller – here’s a pack of raisins. Kids are hungry after a play session – snack on these raisins. Kids are sharing and playing well together – here’s 2 packets as reward. Mummy is stuck in a traffic jam, mummy tears open a pack of raisins…… Well, you get the idea.

But not all raisins are created equal.

You see, during my uni days, I ate a lot of raisins when I had to burn the midnight oil, doing last minute studies before tests and exams. Thinking maybe I could save a few bucks, I bought a certain house brand 1kg pack of raisins because it was cheaper; only to discover it tasted different and was coated in vegetable oil! I learned my lesson and have been a loyal fan to Sun-Maid raisins ever since.

I love that Sun-Maid raisins are naturally dried under the sun for 3 weeks without any preservatives. They have no added sugar, low glycemic index and provide a good source of fibre. Besides, it is practically grapes, without the weight and costs less too.

It is also very versatile. I add raisins into my salads, cous cous and briyani rice, while Lauren and Georgia love finding raisins in their breakfast. I add them into the only thing I ‘bake’ – my homemade toasted muesli

The Chill Mom’s Toasted Muesli Recipe

Here is my basic recipe for toasted muesli. Feel free to add whatever dried fruit and nuts you like. My staple add-on is of course, Sun-Maid raisins 🙂

Cool the toasted muesli in room temperature. It will harden as it cools, so break up big chunks if you don’t like your muesli to get clumpy. Once cooled, add the raisins, nuts and seeds and toss to combine.

Store muesli in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Why pay so much for an expensive store bought granola/toasted muesli when you can easily make it at home?

So tell me, what’s your choice of snack and why?

Since 1912, Sun-Maid has been providing premium quality sun-dried raisins and dried fruits from the farms of California to homes and eating establishments around the world.

Sun-Maid has earned its reputation as “America’s favorite” for raisins and dried fruits. The process of making their raisins requires Natural Seedless grapes – plump and flavorful – and the extended period of drying sun found in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

The sweet, sun-ripened grapes are harvested in early autumn and over 90% are sun-dried on paper “trays” in the vineyards. Over a three-week period, the sun dries them into raisins, giving them their dark color and characteristic flavor.

Sun-Maid raisins are available at all major retailing supermarkets in Singapore.