Whether you’re at home, at the office or in the car, having prepared healthy snacks for those mid-afternoon or mid-morning times when your stomach is growling can help you stick with your program of healthy eating. Snacking isn’t bad. It’s what you eat for a snack that can make a difference between a successful weight loss program or an unsuccessful one. It won’t take a lot of time to make them and keep them on hand to help ease the munchies until your next meal.
You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make healthy snacks.
Popcorn is a healthy snack and it can be extremely simple. While air popped corn is the lowest calorie, making your own microwave or regular popcorn is a close second. Don’t even consider the microwave popcorn you find in the store, which has been linked to health issues. Instead, make your own. You can make dozens of bags of homemade microwave popcorn for the price of one bag of the premade type. For variety, use seasonings like ranch or cheese and pack in plastic bags.
Have cut up fruit in the refrigerator ready to eat.
If you’re normally at home when the hungries hit, have your refrigerator fully stocked with snacks. You can prepare veggies, like celery, cucumbers and carrots. Put them in individual plastic bags and prepare yogurt, black bean, hummus or other healthy dip. Have it ready when your stomach tells you it’s time. Also prepare containers of fruit that is ready to eat. You’ll be more apt to eat a few chunks of watermelon, rather than grab for a cookie if all you have to do is open a container to get it.
Do you want a sweet treat that gives you energy?
You can make protein or energy balls and have them ready to eat. Some recipes require a food processor and use dried dates, nuts and other seeds, while others simply use ingredients you may already have on hand. For instance, peanut butter mixed with a few drops of honey, then added to wheat germ or toasted oats makes a healthy option. Mix enough toasted oats to give it a firmer consistency, then form a golf ball size ball, roll it in wheat germ or oats. Keep these in the refrigerator and grab one for a morning or afternoon snack.
- Pack your own trail mix. Healthy nuts and seeds combined with some dried fruit can be packaged into individual size bags. You can even add a few dark chocolate chips to help handle your sugar craving.
- Keep it simple and super easy. Are you too busy to take time to package everything? It’s not a problem when Mother Nature already did it for you. Fresh fruit, like oranges, bananas and apples are easy to transport and have ready as a snack.
- Fill half pint mason jars with a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt. Add strawberries, blueberries or other fruit, a half banana and some crushed nuts. Put the lid on and store in the refrigerator for snacks.
- Keep tasty frozen treats in the freezer. Fill ice pop molds with blended fruit or fruit and yogurt if you want a creamier version. You can also put half a banana on a Popsicle stick, when it’s frozen, dip it lightly in dark chocolate and roll in nuts for a delicious frozen treat.
For more information, contact us today at Targeted Nutrition Technology
