Let’s talk about SNACKS! Crunchy, salty, sweet and yummy, snacking is the most coveted part of my day. Searching for the snack, not so much. But I’ve learned that finding a tasty healthy snack doesn’t have to be so complicated. So, let’s make healthy snacking yummy again.
When we think of snacking, we think of tasty treats that are easy to make or find. Snacking is the fun younger brother of breakfast, lunch and dinner so we try not to complicate it. However, snacks are not all equal. We must make sure that when we are picking snacks, we are not being reckless or undisciplined in our focus to find a healthy snack. So, let’s find some healthy snack with no fuss and no muss.
Snacking with energy in mind. Looking for bites that will promote healthy and clean energy is important. We should be avoiding refined sugars and unnecessary fats. Look for snacks that pack a lot of flavor and are close to the source. Which is just fancy talk for natural flavors and less processed food.
For quick energy, fruits will cut straight to the chase. They are easy to find and are available in any local grocer or market. There are many sources of prepackaged energy bars and drinks as well. So long as you do a little research, these bites can be a great source of quick energy. Just be sure to make yourself familiar with their labels and when in doubt, research it.
Get your protein in when you can. Long lasting energy is important and finding sources for it through out the day doesn’t have to be challenging. Snacks such as Greek or Nordic yogurts are a great source of protein and coupled with fruit, they can give you a quick long-lasting energy boost. Other sources of protein snacks like hummus, homemade protein bites (you can find many recipes online), shakes and bars are widely available. Like with any prepackaged foods, due your due diligence and read the packaging. Be sure look for unnecessary sugar and chemicals you can’t pronounce. The closer to the natural source the better.
Say it with me, fats are our friend. Well, some fats are. Fats that we consume in things like nuts, legumes, avocado and coconuts as well as some animal fats are necessary for joint and brain health. Fats can help our bodies heal as well and be a source of long-lasting energy. Keep in mind though that fats must be consumed sparingly and like with all other snacks should be as close to a natural source as possible.
I’m hungry!
written by MO