The word “snack” typically carries such negative connotations these days. In most people’s minds, snacks are loaded with sugar, salt, and fat…you know, the good stuff! Seriously, though, that’s just one little dimension of snacking. There’s an entire world of healthier snacks out there that we can all enjoy.
1. Vegan Crackers
You might not have heard, but raw vegan crackers are a healthy snack, and absolutely delicious. You might think of raw crackers as dry, but vegan crackers are made using real fruits, vegetables, seeds and other ingredients dried, squished and shaped to form an all-new kind of healthy snack that’s on a level you never even knew. They’re gluten-free and 100-percent natural for a guilt-free taste experience.
2. Natural Greek Yoghurt and Berries
Plain Greek yoghurt might not sound that exciting but it gets very interesting and nutritious indeed when you load it up with some mixed berries. Just 3-4 ounces (about 100 grams) of Greek yoghurt and half a cup (about 50 grams) of mixed berries delivers up to 10-12 grams of protein and won’t add more than 140-150 calories to your day. At the same time, it’ll provide a nice dose of antioxidants to your daily intake.
3. Mix: Cottage Cheese, Cinnamon, Flax Seeds
This seemingly random combination takes items from your fridge and countertops and turns them into an incredible healthy snack that can have benefits towards weight loss and control of your blood sugar. If you’re a diabetic or just worried about your blood-sugar levels, this is an ideal snack to enjoy. It also delivers about 15 grams of protein and only contains 140-150 calories.
4. Cucumber and Hummus
If you’re not in the mood for mixing and making your own snacks, why not take 2 existing items and just put them together in healthy snack heaven? If you slice some cucumber with its very healthy and potentially anti-cancer cucurbitacin E, and mix it with chickpea-based hummus which also contains anti-inflammatory garlic and olive oil, you end up with a very tasty snack that still has under 200 calories.
5. Fruits and Nuts
If slicing cucumbers isn’t up your street, either, then can we make a suggestion for some straight-forward fresh fruit and mixed nuts? Between all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants they provide, they benefit just about every part of your body and allow you to snack between meals without spoiling your overall appetite or taking on empty calories. Some fruit even comes wrapped in a protective skin that helps keep it freshL oranges, bananas, apples, grapes…
6. Beef Jerky
You might think of beef jerky as being perhaps too salty, fatty or packed with preservatives to be healthy. While some jerky products are certainly not healthy, there are some beef jerky products made organically and simply that are high in protein and low in sugar. Look for beef sticks or jerky that’s made from grass-fed cattle. These have better concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids.
7. Edamame
A common pre-dinner snack in Japanese restaurants, edamame are actually unripened soybeans that are steamed and served before the main culinary event. They have a delicious slightly salty taste and are a great option for vegetarians and vegans. What’s more, they’re loaded with kaempferol, a key antioxidant that has been demonstrated to help with controlling blood-sugar levels and bringing about weight loss.
Get Creative with Healthy Snacks
From these examples you can likely get a better idea on how to construct some healthy snacks of your own. Keep sugar content low, and nutritional value high. Especially favour added protein, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and other things that help you get through the day in a more healthy state.
