Easy and Healthy Snack Ideas

Apr 20, 2021 | breakfast

Easy and Healthy Snack Ideas

As much as we may try to deny it, it’s hard to turn down a good mid-day or evening snack. However, snack time doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure. In fact, as long as you’re opting for healthy foods, snacks can fuel your body with nutrients it may crave. It can be difficult to say goodbye to your favorite bag of chips or candy, but you’ll sure feel the difference. When you’ve got a sweet tooth, you can keep your snacks simple by opting for fresh fruits such as bananas, oranges, berries, etc. Chopped apples with peanut butter or almond butter is a classic snack time favorite. Another great option is yogurt with fresh fruit. A lot of yogurts have added sugar, especially when there’s fruit preserves in the yogurt. Instead, pick plain yogurt and then add your own fresh fruit to keep the sugar content low. If you’re craving ice cream, a great healthy alternative is banana nice cream. You simply blend frozen bananas with milk of your choice, and you’ve got a sweet treat with half the number of calories and sugar.

If you’re craving something salty, try popcorn made with healthy oils such as olive or avocado oil. Air-popped popcorn is typically the healthiest option, however as long as there’s minimal hydrogenated oils, any type of popcorn will do. Raw nuts and seeds are another salty treat that are rich in healthy fats. Some of the most popular nut and seed options are almonds, pecans, sunflowers seeds, and pistachios. Similar to popcorn, you’ll want to watch out for nuts and seeds that are roasted in hydrogenated oils, such as canola oil. Even though they may make the food taste better, hydrogenated oils can cause unwanted inflammation in your body. One of my personal snack favorites are raw vegetables dipped in guacamole or hummus. Cut up a bell pepper or some carrot sticks to scoop into your dip of choice, and you’ve got a ridiculously easy yet tasty snack for any occasion.

Sources: Araya-Fischel, X. (2021, February 14). 23 Snack Ideas to Keep Your Heart (And Belly) Happy. Retrieved from https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/heart-healthy-snacks SnackNation. (2021, March 02). 121 best healthy Snack ideas in 2021 (easy & delicious). Retrieved from https://snacknation.com/blog/guide/healthy-snacks/ Spritzler, F. (2019, April 29). 29 Healthy Snacks That Can Help You Lose Weight. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/29-healthy-snacks-for-weight-loss