When it's time for a snack, avoid chips, candy bars and other unhealthy choices. Instead, eat snacks that are healthy and easy to make yourself. Healthy snacks are a vital part of a nutritious diet. They can help you manage your weight and control the hunger than leads to overeating. Choose snacks with both protein and carbohydrate for sustained energy.
Fruit and Nuts
Fruit and unsalted nuts are an easy-to-make snack that provides you with fiber, protein and healthy unsaturated fats that satisfy the appetite. Have a piece of your favorite fresh fruit and a small handful of nuts, or try a piece of fruit, such as an apple or banana, with peanut or almond butter spread on top. Or choose dried fruits, like apricots and raisins, and mix them with almonds and walnuts to make your own portable trail mix.
Dairy
Make healthy and easy snacks that include calcium-rich dairy. Have a cup of low-fat plain yogurt with half a sliced banana, or make a yogurt smoothie by blending yogurt with blueberries, banana and ice. Using plain yogurt lets you control the sweetness -- many fruit-added yogurts are high in sugar. Pair low-fat cheese sticks or slices with fresh fruit or whole-grain crackers, or have a bowl of whole-grain cereal with skim milk.
Vegetables and Beans
Get more healthy veggies in your diet by including them in snacks. Chop a stalk of celery and mix it with 1/2 can of tuna and light mayonnaise. Dip baby carrots or your favorite raw veggies in hummus. Hummus -- made from chickpeas, which are also called garbanzo beans -- are filled with fiber and protein. Make your own hummus by combining 2 cans of chick peas, 2 small cloves of garlic, 3 tbsp. of tahini or sesame paste, the juice of 2 lemons, 1/2 tsp. of salt and 1/2 tsp. of cumin in a blender. While it's blending, add 1/4 cup of olive oil.
More Healthy Snacks
Sprinkle low-fat shredded cheese on a whole-grain tortilla, fold in half and microwave. Top a whole-grain English muffin or whole-grain crackers with almond or peanut butter. Stuff half a whole-wheat pita with sliced tomato, low-fat cheddar cheese and fat-free ranch dressing. Fill a celery stalk with peanut butter and top with raisins to make the favorite kid's snack ---"ants on a log." Never give celery to children under the age of 3 --- they could choke.
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