A healthy snack may be just what you need to keep you going and prevent you from overeating. In order for a snack to be considered healthy it should contain little calories and not much fat, sugar or salt. Snacks that are healthy for you should contain nutrients that contribute to your good health. For better health, put healthy snacks on your shopping list before going to the supermarket.
Fruit
Make sure you list fresh fruit on your healthy snacks shopping list. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fruits as well as vegetables contain nutrients that may assist in the prevention of chronic illnesses. You know what they say about apples. Besides keeping the doctor away, an apple is a convenient snack you do not have to peel. Other healthy fruit snacks include oranges and bananas. These fruits are good sources of vitamin C, and they contain fiber.
Vegetables
Vegetables are healthy snack foods that can be cut up and bagged. Good choices are celery, broccoli, cauliflower and red bell peppers. Celery, broccoli and red bell peppers contain vitamins A and C. One-half cup of red bell pepper supplies you with 240 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. Like fruit, vegetables are high in fiber.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a healthy snack, and it is even healthier when it is air-popped. One cup of delicious white air-popped popcorn supplies you with 1.1 g of fiber. Air-popped popcorn also contains calcium, iron magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. Vitamins in air-popped popcorn include vitamins A and B6, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and folate. There are also 18 amino acids in air-popped popcorn, little fat and only 55 calories per cup.
Unsalted Whole-Wheat Pretzels
Unsalted whole-wheat pretzels should be on your shopping list for healthy snacks because they are low in calories, low in fat, and they contain dietary fiber and carbohydrates that supply you with energy. Whole-wheat pretzels contain calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper and manganese. Vitamins in whole-wheat pretzels include vitamin B6, C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and folate.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a snack no healthy snacks shopping list should be without. Yogurt with fruit in it is a good choice because it is tasty, and it supplies you with vitamins and minerals that come from fruit as well as yogurt. Yogurt is low in calories, and an 8 oz. cup of fruit yogurt supplies you with vitamins A, B6, B12, C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and folate. Fruit yogurt is low in fat, and an 8 oz. cup serving contains only 238 calories.
References
- Environmental Protection Agency: The Truth About Nutrition ... Because you are what you eat!
- North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services: AG's Cool Nutrition Snacks
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit & Vegetable of the Month
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit & Vegetable Benefits
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