Are you confused about what snacks are actually healthy? Do you have a busy and hectic schedule? If you answered yes to these two questions, then you need to keep reading…
Is this statement true or false?
It is possible to prepare healthy snacks that help you stay on track with your weight goals even on a busy schedule.
Answer: TRUE
Before I recommend some of my go-to snacks, I need to get real with you regarding a few of the so-called healthy snacks that are constantly in the media. For the sake of time, I will tackle three: yogurt, edamame and popcorn.
3 Bad Snacks Disguised As Good
Yogurt is up first. It gets a lot of attention. Advertising works, doesn’t it?
But when you consume yogurt, you are basically spoon-feeding yourself chemicals from the artificial food dyes, aspartame, high-fructose corn syrup and thickening agents in the yogurt. Your waistline will thank you for removing this one from your kitchen.
Let me guess: Are you asking yourself for a good source of calcium if you toss out the yogurt?
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Fortunately, you can make up any calcium deficiencies with the right vegetables. Dark leafy greens like broccoli and spinach are a great choice.
Are you now worried about getting enough probiotics?
Don’t be. You can add supplements to your nutritional routine, fermented veggies or kombucha, which is my personal favorite.
Up next are edamame and popcorn. These are two snacks that I used to enjoy ALL the time.
Here is the problem: Most corn and soy are genetically-modified, which means you might as well be drinking a glass of pesticide.
These two ingredients are in most processed and pre-packaged foods and are also known to cause inflammation in the body. If you are looking to ditch some pain or weight, you may want to skip these two snack options along with any other foods that contain these ingredients.
10 Healthier Snack Alternatives
Instead, let’s look at some alternative snack options, plus discuss two of my favorite tips that could save you from mega calories:
1. Berries are perfect if you want something sweet while trying to lose weight.
2. Apple slices with raw nut butter are a great combo.
3. Roasted chickpeas are a great substitute for potato chip lovers.
4. Cucumbers and tomatoes with fresh lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper are healthy and delicious.
5. A vegetable with a healthy dip such as homemade guacamole, hummus or salsa is easy to put together.
6. Homemade trail mix isn’t that hard to make: Add your favorite raw nuts, seeds and 70 percent cacao dark chocolate chips in a bag and go.
7. Homemade granola is another fun option.
8. Frozen blueberries make a perfect summer treat.
9. Kale chips – yum!
10. Smoothies are not only a great go-to breakfast item, but also a great snack idea.
2 Tips For Success
Before you reach for that healthy snack, I encourage you to do these two things to set yourself up for success:
- Prepare your snacks on the weekend before your hectic week starts to save time before you head for work each morning. It is better to take the extra time to prepare on the weekend than to reach for the candy bowl or leftover donuts in the break room at work!
- Ask yourself in the moment if you are actually hungry or could your hunger pangs actually be your body telling you that you are thirsty? Drink a cup of water or hot tea before you eat. If you are still hungry after 20 minutes, then by all means, have a yummy snack.
What are some of your favorite healthy snacks? Share your comments with me below or Tweet @alisonbrehme.
