Eating snacks is a part of human nature; choosing a healthy snack, however, is not. It is very hard to choose a healthy snack when a bag of chips is just sitting there waiting to be opened and enjoyed.
Choosing to eat a healthy snack is an important component of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Snacking can provide fuel and boost energy for when you’re feeling fatigue in the middle of the day, but only if it’s the right kind of snacks.
To practice this, it is important to shop smart, make mindful decisions, and stay aware of the ingredients you’re putting in your body.
One of the best healthy snacks to have is apples with peanut butter. This snack is super easy and doesn’t break the bank either.
All you have to do is slice up an apple and dip it in some peanut butter, any kind you want. Possibilities include crunchy, smooth, and for those extra health-conscious, almond butter is a great option without all of the extra fats.
Shannon Oswald, junior communication student, says “apples provide important health characteristics that you want a snack to have, while peanut butter provides the sweet taste you are always craving.”
Everyone has their favorite snacks so why not make them healthy?
When asking professor of anthropology, Heidi Bludau, Ph. D., she says the go to is “A Granny Smith apple with peanut butter.
It’s a great flavor pairing and provides fiber and protein and some sweetness”.
Another great healthy snack is Greek yogurt with some granola. This snack is particularly filling but very low in calories.
There are also so many different add-ins you can use. If you get a plain flavor of Greek yogurt you have the opportunity to add in all different types of fun nutritious toppings, granola, or berries, or even half a banana.
This snack can keep you full for hours, and easily covers all of your basic food groups.
The ultimate easy healthy snack is quick oatmeal.
Oatmeal is a great source of protein and nutrition.
It is also an extremely filling snack and like yogurt, you can add in as much as you want, adding in blueberries or strawberries is a great way to make sure you are getting your fruit in.
Oatmeal is also a great snack for this upcoming season.
It heats up your body and gets you in a warm and cozy mood.
Sydney Berg, a junior business management student, says that her go-to healthy snack is rice cakes with peanut butter.
Berg stated, “It tastes great and is a good source of carbs, protein, and healthy fats.”
If you are someone who is always in a hurry and is just looking for something as easy as a bag of potato chips, a great alternative is a granola bar.
Granola bars are a great source of nutrition and even substitute as a breakfast for some people.
Granola bars are also great if you are a picky eater, they come in many different flavors and add-ins, some even sneak in chocolate chips if you really need to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Choosing a healthy snack isn’t always the easiest choice, but you can’t make the excuse that the snack itself isn’t easy.
The easiest snack ever is just a piece of fruit.
Apples, bananas, grapes, etc. are great healthy alternatives to chips or cookies.
They are also extremely easy; all you have to do is buy them and wash them.
Snacking should not be a hassle, it should be quick and easy.
Hopefully with some of these snack ideas, you can be more mindful and healthy when choosing your snack of choice.
Keep on healthy snacking.
PHOTO COURTESY of Colleen Moretti
