Created by: Kristen Carli, Dietetic Intern
Snacking on junk food is all too easy to do when you are feeling that afternoon slump. But, junk food snacks lack nutrition and often leave us still hungry and feeling bloated. Instead, look for a healthy snack that can fuel you with protein, fiber and carbohydrates.
Make Your Own Healthy Snack
Homemade trail mix is super easy and often much cheaper than the pre-made versions. Place unsalted cashews, almonds, dried cranberries, popcorn, sunflower seeds, and maybe a sprinkle of chocolate chips into a large jar. Add a lid and shake it up!
A Healthy Snack is a Balanced Snack
Always combine a source of protein or fat with a source of carbohydrate for a satisfying snack. For example, eat bell peppers with hummus, apples with peanut butter, or whole grain crackers with avocado.
Do Some Prep Work
Pre-cut snacking veggies to have on hand and pre-portion them into single serving containers. Try bell peppers, carrots, celery, snap peas, or cucumber.
Switch up Your Dips
Dips can make veggies fun and tasty. As long as you choose healthy dips, you can add a lot of flavor without adding a lot of calories and fat. Some healthy dips to try are tzatziki, hummus, guacamole, salsa, and baba ganoush.
Grab & Go Healthy Snack Options
Most healthy snacks require little prep work and are ready-to-go! These are the original “fast foods”. Some grab & go options are:
- Unsalted nuts
- Whole fruits like bananas, apples, nectarines, oranges, grapefruits, etc.
- Dried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried figs, etc.)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fruit and nut bars
- Whole-grain crackers
- Popcorn
Material adapted from eatright.org & choosemyplate.gov
