Real Healthy Snacks That Rock!

Posted on March 15, 2007 in Nutrition by byronb

As recent studies have shown, long periods between meals leaves you hungry, less alert, and more prone to binging when food is available.  Ideally, a person would be able to eat several small meals in a day, keeping their energy and metabolism high.  Because your life is a busy one, several small meals may not be an option, but snacks definitely are!

When you think of the word snack, you are probably imagining things like potato chips and candy bars.  While these things are good for an energy boost, they’re not a good option when you look in the long term.  The sugar high wears off, leaving you feeling tired, sluggish, and probably dehydrated on top of that.  Those are certainly not feelings you want to have during your day.

The first key is learning to listen to your body.  When you’re feeling down and reaching for the Twinkie, think about why you are doing it.  Most likely, it is because you’re lacking sugar.  If sugar is the problem, a fruit snack of some sort is the answer, not a Twinkie.  Fruit snacks, like Gushers and Fruit Roll-Ups are better than candy, as they’re high in vitamin C, but less healthy than actual fruit.

Some fruits that are good for an on-the-go life style are apples and oranges, which are easy to carry in a purse or backpack, and dried cranberries, which can satisfy that sugar craving.  Bananas are all-around winners, being high in potassium and easy to eat while driving or traveling.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that healthy means boring.  Hummus is a dip made of ground chickpeas, tahini sauce, lemon juice and garlic, and spread on pita bread, making it a versatile and quick snack.  This Middle Eastern staple can be found in many flavors and can be prepared quickly.

Anything involving whole-grains is good for a snack when you’re feeling low on energy.  They are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which is excellent when you’ve got a long day ahead of you and not much time.  Some suggestions include whole-grain crackers and whole-grain pretzels, which are found in every supermarket.

For a protein fix, try nuts and seeds.  While high in calories, nuts and seeds contain mostly mono-saturated fat, a kind of fat that is healthy for you.  Similarly, a handful of sunflower seeds or cashews will keep you fuller for a longer period of time than anything sugary.

For those that crave dairy, cheese and yogurt are ideal for a midday pick-me-up.  They are also good sources of calcium and protein, a necessity for people looking to lose weight.  Though you should be careful as dairy products are high in fat, there is a wide variety of dairy products that are very good for you.  You might try mixing yogurt with granola to create an especially filling, healthy treat.

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a chore and even your snacks can taste great and be great for you, if you just keep a few things in mind.

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