Healthy Snacks (Continued)
Smart Snacking Strategies (Cont.)
Make it exciting. Healthy snacking doesn't always have to be boring. Giving yourself a variety of choices will make the healthy approach much easier. Whole-wheat pretzels with spicy mustard, rice cakes with peanut butter and raisins, or low-fat fruit yogurt are healthy, tasty, and easy to make. I think you're getting the idea now.
Satisfy cravings with healthier approaches. If you’re absolutely can't live without chocolate, try having a cup of hot chocolate instead of the chocolate bar. An 8-ounce mug of hot chocolate has roughly 140 calories and 3 grams of fat however, a chocolate bar has as much as 230 calories and 13 grams of fat (not to mention saturated fats). Substitute nonfat frozen yogurt or sorbet for ice cream. If you’re craving savory munchies, snack on baked tortilla chips spice them up with salsa instead of sour cream. Or satisfy salt cravings with pretzels instead of chips. You can even enjoy baked Doritos (healthier alternative but still has about 5 grams of fat).
Prepare healthy snacks in advance. Did you know that you can make your own granola or trail mix? By preparing foods yourself, you get complete control of the ingredients and get to put in what's good for you! You can also keep plenty of fresh fruit and veggies at home so you can grab them on the go. Cut up melons or vegetables like celery and carrots in advance. Keep the servings in bags in the fridge, so you can grab them and go.
Keep healthy snacks with you. Make it a habit to stash some fruit, whole-grain crackers, or baby carrots in your backpack or workout bag so you always have some healthy food nearby. Half a cheese sandwich also makes a great snack to have on standby.
Healthy Snacking Ideas
Ants on a log — Spread organic or all natural peanut butter on celery sticks and top with raisins.
Banana ice — Peel and break several ripe bananas and cut them into 1-inch pieces, and freeze the pieces in a sealed plastic bag. Just before serving, whirl the pieces in the blender with a small amount of water or juice. Serve right away. Add berries for a different flavor or top with fruit or nuts.
Mini pizzas — Add pizza sauce to half a bagel, English muffin, or mini pita. Top with low-fat mozzarella cheese and your favorite vegetables. Toast or bake at a low setting until the cheese has melted and the bagel is crispy.
Healthy ice pops — Freeze fresh, unsweetened 100% juice in ice pop molds or ice cube trays.
Low-fat pita and hummus — Warm a pita in the oven on low, then cut it into small triangles. Dip it in a tasty, low-fat hummus. Hummus is available in yummy flavors like garlic and spicy red pepper.
Happy trails mix — Combine 1 cup whole-grain toasted oat cereal with 1/4 cup chopped walnuts and 1/4 cup dried cranberries for a healthy trail mix.
Conclusion:
As with everything, moderation is the key to smart snacking. People who eat regular meals and healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods without eating and then scarf down a large order of fries.
It's natural to feel hungrier at certain times of the day. Knowing how much food your body needs to satisfy this hunger is extremely important. A handful of walnuts make great "brain food" before sitting down to do homework. But a whole bag won't help you add anything — except pounds!
Back to Page 1
