Types of Healthy Snacks

Snacks can help keep your metabolic rate high, which will keep your body in fat-burning mode because there is less chance for hunger or starvation mode. When your body feels like it is not getting enough calories for energy, it will start storing food for later use, which turns to fat. Snacks can help you meet your nutrition requirements if they are rich in healthy nutrients.

Vegetables

Vegetable sticks can make healthy, convenient snacks. You can prepare vegetables at night and put them in the fridge for a ready-to-eat snack for the next day. Include carrots, broccoli, celery and cauliflower in the medley. Carrots are a rich source of vitamin A, which enhances skin and nails. Vegetables provide other essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, D, E, potassium and iron. They are also healthy sources of complex carbohydrates and a good source of fiber.

Fruit

Fresh fruit provides essential nutrients to your body. Avoid canned fruit and artificial fruit juice because they are generally higher in sugar. Strawberries and oranges are among the fruits highest in vitamin C content. One orange provides approximately 82mg of vitamin C along with vitamin A, calcium and potassium. Strawberries supply approximately 84mg of vitamin C as well as magnesium, vitamin K, potassium and calcium. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your body from free radical damage, such as air pollutants and ultraviolet rays.

Pyramid Tortilla

A pyramid tortilla is a healthy, simple snack. It is nutrient-rich and to make it low in fat, make it with lean slices of turkey or ham, low-fat shredded cheese, shredded lettuce and raisins. Spread reduced-fat cream cheese or mayonnaise on a whole-wheat tortilla and roll the foods up in the tortilla. You can heat this snack up to melt the cheese. The pyramid tortilla provides calcium, potassium, complex carbohydrates and iron.

Canned Fish on Whole Wheat Crackers

Fish provides essential fatty acids to your body. You can put your choice of fish such as canned tuna, sardines, slices of salmon, herring or anchovies on whole-wheat crackers for a nutrient-rich snack. Many fish like tuna, salmon and herring are rich sources of vitamin A, which protects your skin. Sardines are high in phosphorus, calcium, potassium and folate. If you replace chips and dip for fish on whole-wheat crackers, you will be loading your body with essential vitamins and minerals and healthy omega-3 fatty acids.