3 Smart Alternatives to Sugary Snacks

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I would like to take a moment to introduce a very special and entertaining guest blogger today….. Welcome Josie Maurer! Josie runs the hilarious, yet informative blog YumYucky.com

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Are you listless and lethargic or feeling greedy for some sweets? Forget about the doughnuts and other sugary crap dreams. It’s easier than you think to have a snack attack without the fat-inducing snare.

Sugary snacks will woo you, then lead to poundage on the scale. Dig into these three snack alternatives to achieve an energy boost or quiet a sweet craving without the crash and burn of a sugary snack fail.

Tuna – a better energy source.

Tuna’s low-fat, high protein content is a smart way to boost energy. Candy is far from ideal for an energy infusion. But forget about that frightful tuna version laced with globs of mayo and slapped on nutrient-starved white bread. Tuna comes in handy, 3-ounce mini cans that require no can opener.

Tote it to work, chill for a few hours (if possible), then pop the top during the home stretch of your work day when low energy and big time hungry harass you best.

Grab any brand of tasty Albacore, like Chicken of the Sea’s 3-pack, 3-ounce singles. It’s virtually fat free and goes for 100 calories per serving with 21 grams of protein.

Prunes – a sweet replacement

Eww! They’re mushy and sound like grandma food. As if grandma’s aren’t cool? You’ve heard about prunes, but they get a bad rap. Their appearance and texture may be ugly and squishy, but if you give the prune a chance, you’re in for a happy surprise.

Think of a prune as a dried plum, because that’s exactly what it is. They’re high in fiber for digestive health, rich in antioxidants to reduce free radicals that cause cancer, and so incredibly sweet, your taste buds will do a double take.

Try Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes. At only 25 calories each, one or two will make you smile. Prunes offer natural, uber-sweetness that can easily expose a refined sugar snack for the loser that it is.

Greek Yogurt – endless possibilities

If you want thick, creamy, and delicious, you need to be eating Greek Yogurt; a protein-rich delight with an estimated 15 grams per serving. It’s different from regular yogurt because it’s been strained to remove the whey (liquidy part). Add fruit or honey for a greedy treat that can easily double as dessert. Greek Yogurt is also a popular ingredient in tasty recipes. Fage brand is the most delectable, followed by Chobani, then others. Whichever brand you choose, give it a go.

If you’re doing damage control from healthy resolutions gone wrong, try adding these powerhouse foods to the mix. It’s okay to be greedy and drool over your snacks when tuna, prunes, and Greek yogurt is nearby.

Photo Credit: doug88888

Written by Ernesto Martinez

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11 Comments

kittay skeezah said on February 5th at 1:22 pm

Can’t choke down the tuna, but I loooooove prunes. Nature’s candy, yo! Or are those raisins? Still!

Erin said on February 5th at 1:51 pm

Tuna, Prunes and Greek Yogurt! All foods that I can get behind. I normally have tuna once a week (use to be a lot before getting prego). Prunes I haven’t had in a while, but now that you said that might need to get some now. As for Greek Yogurt.. You got me into it in the first place so now I’m in love with it lol!

Great Post Josie!

Lance said on February 6th at 9:19 pm

Hey Josie,
You know (well…you probably actually don’t), I used to eat tuna all the time, and haven’t now for quite a while. It’s time to invite that back in (thanks!!).

GIGI said on February 7th at 5:47 pm

My Power Foods:
- Pumpkin
- Butternut Squash
- Spaghetti Squash
- Spinach
- Sugar-Free Ketchup (on the spinach, he he!)
- Salmon
- Mackerel
- Sardines
- Anchovies
- Tuna (yee yee!)
- Eel
- Sea Vegetables!

Ernesto said on February 7th at 8:33 pm

I saw some Greek Yogurt at Lowes Food with 22 grams of protein per serving. I’m going to give it a try this week. It should be a welcoming change to the cottage cheese and fruit I’ve been forcing down lately. Great recommendations Josie!

Yum Yucky said on February 8th at 12:10 pm

22 grams!? I’m jealous! make sure you give different flavors a chance. Plain Greek can be pretty ick. Dress is up a bit and it’ll be delicious!

merri said on February 8th at 7:08 pm

i actually really like prunes but if i say so people look at me like im crazy because they sound so nasty. its better to call them dried plums cuz then they sound tasty like they are.

Ernesto said on February 9th at 5:39 pm

Ok, So I purchased the plain greek yogurt (fat free) that I mentioned earlier. It was very bitter by itself, however… I took your advice Josie and did the following: I put one serving of the greek yogurt, 1 banana, and a serving of low-fat granola into a blender. I added just a splash of milk to get the blender going, and blended it for about 30 to 40 seconds. IT WAS FANTASTIC. It really tasted great!

It ended up being about 5 to 6 grams of fat (3.4 from the granola and maybe 1 to 2g from the splash of milk) and 27grams of protein. Not to mention it kept me full for almost three hours .

Ernesto said on February 9th at 5:41 pm

Oh, one more thing, it was $4.22 for the greek yogurt and it only had two servings in one container so it can get a bit pricey but very worth it to me.

Yum Yucky said on February 9th at 9:01 pm

I love granola in my yogurt!! But I get real greedy with it. So I gotta clam down and go granola-less sometimes. Glad you loved it!

Matthew Denos said on April 12th at 6:34 pm

I eat tuna almost everyday. It’s not only the high quality protein that this type of food offers, it is also its low fat content which allows quick digestion and absorption of nutrients.

The only thing that concerns me is the heavy metals that tuna fish is said to be contaminated with. Anybody knows if it is safe to eat a can of tuna every day?