A Simple Guide to Healthy Snacking
Posted on 12 September 2008
Snacking is a tricky subject as it can seem hard to pick up a quick bite on the go with all the processed crap available today. Shelves are stuffed with High Fructose Corn Syrup filled candy bars and Carb loaded potato chips which are expanding the worlds waistline, so what are we to do?
Our Options?
Trail Mix
This is one of my favorite’s as its simple, easy to find and pretty cheap. Most health stores and cafe’s sell pre-packed trailmixes which include things like; Almonds, Walnuts, Dried Fruit and Seeds. These are all super healthy and packed with Vitamins and Minerals.
Beware of the potential pitfalls though; Many of the more commercial trail mixes tend to shoot towards higher sugar content putting sugar covered dried fruit in the mix. Stick to trail mixes which have raisins and dried apricots/figs inside as these are usually unprocessed unlike dried pineapple and cranberries…..
Alternativly you can make your own trail mixes a good reciepe is equal measures of:
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Selection of Seeds
- Dark Chocolate pieces or Cocoa
- Raisins
Its works out cheaper to make your own and you can customize the mix to your preference….
Fruit
Quite simply one of the best snacks around. When I am traveling I always keep a few pieces of fresh fruit on hand nothing beats a juicy apple. Try to buy what is in season and local and eat it while its fresh. This is a great link to see what’s in season when………..
Snack Bars
Good healthy snack bars are pretty hard to find, but it is possible and there are many good one’s on the market especially in places like Whole Foods. Make sure you keep an eye out for:
- Bars that are low in Sugar and Carbs but High in Fiber
- Have a relatively high amount of protein
- No artificial sweeteners
- Most the carbs come from Fruits and Nuts rather than Oats or Grains
- No High Fructose Corn Syrup or Refined Sugar
Some good one’s to keep an eye out for are Lara Bars and Pulsin Balls.
Vegetables with Dips
If you buy things like cucumbers, peppers, celery and carrots they can easily be sliced up into scoop like shapes and used to dip into things like Salsa and Yoghurt based dips, even dipping them in peanut butter is great! These provide a great high fiber snack which is extremely satisfying while staying healthy.
Great Recipe for a Healthy Dip
Nuts
Plain old nuts are a great snack a good handful with some fruit makes for a tasty and satisfying snack. Some of my favorites are:
- Macadamia
- Brazil Nuts (3 covers your RDA for selenium)
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pecans
Always try to go for the RAW variety as they haven’t been roasted and they have all their goodness within. If you want your nuts to be more easily digestible and have more nutrients available to your body try soaking them overnight they roasting them in an oven yourself, or leaving them to dry out in the sun….
Drinks
My favorite thing to drink while snacking is a green tea or coffee. These can all be picked up at any cafe and are both great with things like trail mix and fruit. Stay well away from any “soft drinks” which include coca-cola, sprite, and fruit juices amongst others. And if in doubt just drink some fresh cold water….
Good Snacking
Is something we rarely see people do but when you know how to snack it is surprisingly easy. It just takes some informed thinking and will power. The benefits are worth it though; you will stay in shape, have steady energy and your body will feel light and refreshed throughout the day.
Anyone who has any snacking tips please share the knowledge!!
12 comments so far
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Comment by Parth
12 September 2008
Almonds and fruits, thats all I eat! Although I think that filling yourself at actual meals is also very important. But hunger can strike at any time.
Comment by Blake
12 September 2008
I’m a big fan of fruit for a snack. good snack tips.
Comment by Yegin
12 September 2008
I have a bit of a problem with the portion control when it comes to snacks and I think size control should also be taken seriously when snacking. Here is an interesting article that I recently came across that talks about a study on snack sized packs.
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/07/10/are_snack-sized_packs_making_you_fat.php
cheers
Comment by Chris
12 September 2008
@ Parth: Apple and Almonds are a great combination and make for a tasty snack. Also very easy to find or put together on the go!
@ Yegin: I agree portion control is key! I try to keep my snack portions down but tend to find that appetite automatically keeps things in check when snacking on good food…. Great link BTW
Comment by Naomi
14 September 2008
I’m jealous Chris, I’d kill for something to keep my snacking in check.. Unfortunately I’m a bit obsessive compulsive sometimes, which is why I just stay away from trail mixes completely.. before you know it the whole bag is gone!
What I like to do is treat a snack like a mini-meal. Put it on a plate, make some time for it, no mindless eating, obvious predetermined portioning… Jep, the veggie+dip works best
Comment by Grace
16 September 2008
1. Iced green tea. It looks like I won’t say what, so I usually toss in a few black tea bags for color and some mint for flavor.
2. Baby carrots, which really aren’t, just big carrots that have been downsized. Sometimes I just need to crunch!
3. Make-yr-own trail mix. Only watch the sugared fruit. I was so disappointed when CostCo started carrying it!
Does anybody have a good recipe for home-made Lara bars? It seems simple–just ground up dates & nuts?
Good post. Thanks! G.
Comment by lesley
14 January 2009
My favorite snacks …
1)Fruit or carrots/veggies by themselves/with hummus
2)Greek yogurt made with skim milk. I make my own, but also like Fage 0% … per cup it has 120 calories and 20 g protein. To add some fiber, I ground up some flax seed and also mix in some cacao nibs, some frozen berries and a packet of Truvia
Comment by fabelfisk
15 February 2009
I love mixing youghurt without added sugar or flavour with cinnamon and a few grapes or apple pieces. Delicous!
Another great snack is apple slices with thin slices of parmesan cheese on top. Yummy!