Snacks add variety to the diet you normally eat, keep you feeling full in between meals and can even improve your health, providing you make smart choices. Recognizing the nutritious snack options available can help you get into the habit of eating healthy snacks.
Air Popped Popcorn
If you crave a crunchy snack that won't destroy your calorie goals, air-popped popcorn is one food you can turn to. Without the greasy additives that are put into the prepackaged, microwave varieties, popcorn is healthy, light and loaded with fiber. Air popping uses nothing but heat to pop the kernels, eliminating the need for oil. If you want some additional flavoring, add a small pinch of seasoned salt or a few squirts of no-fat butter spray. A one cup serving of air popped popcorn has just 30 calories, 1 g of protein and under 0.5 g of fat.
Orange Slices
Since they are packed with vitamin C, orange slices are an obvious choice for a healthy snack. Not only are they loaded with vitamin C, they also provide an excellent source of dietary fiber, potassium, B vitamins including folate, vitamin A, magnesium and calcium. The two most popular varieties are valencia oranges, which have seeds and a thinner skin, and navel oranges, a seedless type with a thick skin. One orange contains approximately 90 calories.
Natural Peanut Butter
Peanut butter comes from a legume that contains artery clearing monounsaturated fats, as well as fiber, magnesium and vitamin E. Natural peanut butter makes a smart snack option, as it only takes a little to tide you over until your next meal. A 2 tbsp. serving of natural peanut butter contains about 200 calories. Many people choose to cut that in half and spread the peanut butter over apple slices, whole-grain crackers or add it into a smoothie.
Low Fat Yogurt
When craving something sweet, such as ice cream or sherbet, reach for a container of low-fat yogurt instead. An 8 oz. serving of plain, fat-free yogurt contains 160 calories and about 3 g of fat. Add some of your favorite sliced fruits to give it the flavor you desire. Yogurt can also be used in many of your favorite recipes instead of sour cream.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cutting Calories
- "Kids' Stuffin's: Good & Healthy Snacks for Kids to Make & Eat"; Patti Lynch; 1995
- "Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids"; Penny Warner; 1994
Member Comments