You know the feeling. You’re busy and you’ve got a list of things to do, but you’re hankering for something sweet, salty or otherwise snack-worthy. While it’s seems easy to grab a bag of chips or candy bar, that’s the opposite of easy on your body. Instead, choose a snack that satisfies your hunger and leaves your body a little bit better than it was before.
There are many healthy options to pick from. Also: by having a little protein with every snack, you will stay satiated for longer and your blood sugar will be more stabilized – i.e. no big spikes and crashes in your energy. With a little planning, these snacks are just as convenient and economical as the old junk food but without the physiological price to pay.
Snack-Happies:
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Carrot sticks, celery or other veggies with hummus. Buy the big carrots and slice them into long strips – the taste and texture is way better. Hummus is an easy dip made from chickpeas that you can make or buy – choose one without funky additives or sugar.
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Raw crackers with avocado. Raw crackers are made of whole grains – check out Mary’s Gone Crackers. Slice up half an avocado; when you’re ready to snack, top a cracker with a slice and voila.
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Nuts + dried fruit. Choose your nut(s) and portion out a serving size so you don’t end up eating 5 servings in one sitting (yes, this happens routinely here…). Same with the dried fruit: portion out a serving, as this will have a high sugar content. Choose a dried fruit free of additives like sulphur or titanium dioxide.
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A hard-boiled egg with some veggie slices (bell peppers, zucchini, etc). Protein, check. Antioxidants and nutrients, double check.
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Fresh fruit + seeds, nuts or nut butter. Easy to bring along – sometimes it helps to make it eat-ready at home, like slicing an apple or quartering an orange. Have this with a little protein like seeds, nuts or nut butter (almond butter: yum) – portion it out.
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Apples + cinnamon sprinkled on top + a few pecans.
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A bunch of grapes + a small handful of walnuts.
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A little container of leftovers. Take some of your healthy leftovers and enjoy as a snack – satisfying and easy.
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Sushi. A few pieces can be satisfying and delicious, all wrapped up in a little package.
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Avoid having raw fish more than once or twice weekly, and vary the type if you have it more than once.
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Protein muffins. Choose one with low sugar content and a good amount of protein (look for at least 5g). Paleo versions can be great.
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Granola with berries and seeds. Prep it in a container, bring a spoon and some milk / non-dairy milk, and enjoy. Choose a granola with a lower amount of sugar – aim for less than 10g per serving. Add seeds (pumpkin, flax, sesame, sunflower, and the list goes on) for a little protein power.
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A couple squares of dark chocolate. Yes; just yes 🙂
May this bring a little more goodness to your snack time. May you be well.
The information provided here is not intended to replace medical advice or to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Please consult your doctor with specific questions and prior to beginning any significant diet or lifestyle changes.