When trying to eat healthier, finding appropriate snacks can become difficult, especially if you're pressed for time. Sometimes grabbing the easiest option, like prepackaged cookies or other unhealthy snack options, can seem easier than preparing a healthy snack multiple times per day. If you're trying to live a healthier lifestyle, identifying simple and healthy snack recipes that can be prepared quickly or taken on-the-go is an important step in eating healthy and avoiding the temptation to grab less-healthy options. If you're looking to incorporate healthy snack recipes into your lifestyle, keep reading to learn the top eight questions and answers, so you can get started on a journey to a healthier you.
As with most things, moderation is key. If you occasionally reach for a few Oreos or a bag of chips for an afternoon snack, there's no harm done. If you're consistently relying on prepackaged, sugary or salty snacks, however, your health (and your diet) could suffer. Instead, try opting for a quick healthy snack idea instead!
While prepackaged snack foods can be a fast, easy way to have snacks easily accessible, they aren't always as healthy as homemade snack options, and they can also be considerably more expensive. Consider making snacks ahead of time to take with you, rather than reaching for prepackaged snacks that may be high in sugar, salt and additives or preservatives.
Research suggests that three balanced meals per day, along with one or two healthy snacks, provides an ideal daily diet full of a variety of foods. Eating healthy snacks between meals can also keep you from becoming overly hungry, which can lead to overeating during meal times.
There are tons of recipes online for snacks that can be made ahead of time, so you can easily grab something and go. In addition, fresh fruits and veggies or nuts make great mid-day snacks and have the benefit of being healthy at the same time.
When it comes to finding healthy snack options for kids, a good rule of thumb is to keep things simple. While adults may enjoy more complex snack options, kids tend to like things that are simply and familiar. Consider sliced fruit and cheese or peanut butter, dried fruits, vegetables and similar items your kids may enjoy.
Diabetics face extra challenges when choosing appropriate snack options, but snacking is an important part of managing blood sugar levels each day. Vegetables, whole grains and snacks high in protein (and low in carbohydrates) are always great snack options for people with diabetes. Talk to your doctor about which snacks are appropriate for you.
There are a variety of resources online that can give you great healthy snack recipe ideas, with options available for just about every dietary restriction or preference. Take some time to search out recipes that fit your dietary needs and challenges and try a few new recipes each week!
Not having access to a refrigerator for much of the day can prove challenging when coming up with healthy snack options, but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty to choose from. Whole-grain crackers, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts and similar items are all great healthy snack ideas that can be taken on-the-go, no refrigeration needed.