Tips For Healthy Snacking

By Susanne Myers

We all do it, we grab a little snack in-between meals to curb our hunger and keep our energy levels up. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Snacking is actually good for you, as long as you stick with healthy food options. Let’s take a look at how you can transform your fridge and pantry into a haven of healthy snacks that will keep you from grabbing chips or cookies when you get hungry in-between meals.
Get Rid of Temptation
Start by cleaning all the “bad” snacks out of your kitchen. Toss or give away the cookies, chips and the cheesecake. Get rid of those chicken nuggets and pizza bagels. It will be much easier to choose healthy snacks if there isn’t the temptation of high-fat and high-sugar snacks lurking around.
Foods To Stock Up On
Now that you are staring at your almost empty pantry and fridge, it’s time to talk about what foods you should stock up on.
Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Whole Wheat Crackers
Low Fat Cheese and Cheese Sticks
Fresh Ground Peanut Butter
Nuts and Almonds
Soy and Skim Milk
Whole Wheat Bread
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Rice Cakes
Yogurt
Hummus
Air Pop Popcorn
Cottage Cheese
Corn Chips and Salsa
Low Sugar Cereal
Prep These Healthy Snacks
All this healthy food still won’t do you all that good if you are looking for a healthy snack that’s ready to eat. So here are some easy snacks that you can prepare and store, so they are ready to munch on.
Cut Up Fruit and Veggies
You can have all sorts of healthy veggies and even fruit sitting in your fridge, but your family won’t grab it for a snack because it would involve peeling and cutting. Instead they go for a bag of chips or some other ready to eat snack. Make it easy for everyone by cutting up some of the fruit and veggies and keep it in plastic containers ready to eat.
Trail Mix
Make your own trail mix from low sugar cereal, nuts and dried fruit. It’s a great snack to just grab and go, or something to munch on while watching TV. Make up a badge of trail mix and store it in an airtight container in your pantry.
Granola Bars
Homemade granola bars are a great snack alternative to cookies and cake. It’s sweet and crunchy, but by making your own, you control what ingredients go in there. Use whole grains and dried fruit. Keep the amount of sugar or honey you use on the low end for a healthy treat.
Cooked Chicken Breast
Keep some cut up cooked chicken breast in the fridge for a quick protein rich snack. You can make a quick chicken salad by adding a little low-fat mayonnaise and some raisins. Add the chicken to a little lettuce for a quick salad, or wrap it with some fresh veggies and sprouts in a tortilla. Make a quick chicken quesadilla with tortillas and a little cheese.
All it takes is a little preparation and trying some new foods to get everyone in the family eating healthier snacks.
Susanne Myers is the co-creator of Healthy Menu Mailer. Busy Moms love the easy-to-prepare healthy dinner recipes, grocery lists and encouragement to stay healthy every day of the week. Try it free for a week with our 7 day Sneak Peak at http://www.healthymenumailer.com/
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