It may be difficult to define snacks. But we can tell you that they are not always unhealthy. Some consist of healthier options like protein bars, nuts and seeds, fruit cups, and even sugar free mints. Others can often contain an excessive amount of sugar or fat (trans fats), such as chips, candy bars, etc., which creates an imbalance between what you’re consuming and what your body needs. However – before we start listing some healthy snacks – it’s important to remember WHY snacking is so important in the first place.
- Your Chai needs a friend! Time for some tea is one of our favorite things to do. We don’t only drink it and enjoy its flavor, but we take a few bites of some wadas or samosas too. After all, these are times when you want to live life up – they’re just moments when you want to bask in the joys of life with friends.
- When you find yourself waking up early in the morning, there’s no time for a hot meal like some steaming rice with spicy sambar or masala dosa. In these times, snacks can save the day! They satisfy your hunger without taking up too much room in your stomach and are generally eaten in smaller servings than meals.
- A good snack can be the perfect tool for maintaining a balanced diet. You may find yourself hungry or craving certain things at different points during the day, but always having snacks available will help satisfy those cravings while allowing you to stay on top of your nutrition goals.
Types of Healthy Snacks You Can Try at Home
If you need some suggestions for tasty accompaniments to your tea, then here are some ideas:
1. Liquid Snacks:
Liquid snacks contain less calories than solid food and are therefore an excellent option for those seeking to slim down. This can be difficult though, because many of the good things come with solids too – such as vitamins or fiber. Liquid diets generally involve soups, fresh juice without pulp, black tea or water.
Although some pros exist when it comes to drinking liquids, there are also many cons that come along with them. For one thing, there is an increased risk of becoming dehydrated or lacking nutrients in your diet due to the lack of solids being consumed. Not to mention headaches and general fatigue setting in over time, leading up to more serious health issues such as infertility. However, while drinking liquids isn’t ideal for meal replacements or snacks – they can do well when consumed during short intervals between meals (e.g., before a workout).
2. Homemade Type Snacks:
One healthy snack option is making your own snacks. Homemade snacks often contain natural and organic ingredients which are also preservative free and high in antioxidants, providing many health benefits such as lowering cholesterol levels and boosting brain function. Snacks that can easily be made at home include granola bars, fresh fruit with nut butter, homemade salsa dip, raw veggies dipped in hummus, and sandwiches on whole grain bread without cheese or mayonnaise to name a few.
- Date Energy Balls:
These sweet dates will keep you feeling energized all day long. Make these energy balls in just a few minutes using the food processor! Put them on your desk at work or take them when traveling – they are conveniently portable because they don’t require refrigeration until they’re served. To make these iron-rich energy bites, put 1 cup of pitted and chopped dates into a food processer along with 1 tablespoon each of ground oats and almond butter, 1⁄2 teaspoon of almond extract (or omit this), 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger root (optional) and 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Mix until they form a soft paste then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of hot water to loosen the mixture if needed. Then shape it into one large ball and place it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before serving.
3. Oil Snacks:
Yes, there are some drawbacks to this delicious snack. But if you’re willing to make a few small changes – swapping out your usual vegetable oil for something healthier like olive oil – then it might not be such a big problem after all. Extra virgin olive oil contains omega-9 fatty acids that reduce inflammation and promote healthy blood vessels just like polyunsaturated fats found in canola or sunflower seed oils do.
- Roast your almonds in a spoon of garlic oil and sprinkle some black pepper.
- Try this delicious roasted nut in the afternoon for an extra filling.
The Good and the Bad: The Good Part is substituting olive oil with other oils that have a lot of monounsaturated fatty acids. This has proven to not increase the cholesterol levels in your blood and thus it won’t hurt you or give you any health risks. In contrast, the Bad Part is that they contain too many calories which leads to weight gain because people consume too much of them.
4. Calorie Snacks:
Calorie snacks are an important part of dieting. Some sweet treats like fruit might have high sugar content and lots of vitamins that we need for our body to function properly, but most don’t. Other options such as crisps or biscuits may fill us up quickly – but they can easily add pounds onto our waistline if eaten too often. Eating calorie-controlled options with care instead ensures that we’re getting enough nutrition so we stay healthy, active, and alert throughout the day.
A few tasty low-calorie options include cucumbers cut into strips or pieces of watermelon which will both boost hydration levels! And there’s always soup for those times when it gets hard to keep going – it has plenty of protein in it so keeps us feeling full until lunchtime rolls around again!
Good and bad: the good part is they are one of the best sources of energy; thus, keeping you all active. The bad part, though, is that it can become difficult to find the right balance with what kind of food you’re consuming. This also affects your calorie intake which should be counted every day – especially for women who need about 2000 calories per day or for men who need 2500! However – fruit remains an exception to this dilemma because most people just don’t overindulge in fruit like we sometimes might choose other foods.
5. Packaged Type Snacks:
When it comes to snacking between meals, it can be difficult to know what options are both healthful and tasty. This post will introduce you to some great options that fit this criteria!
- Nutritious Mixed Berry:
this big bag is a mix of mixed berries of many kinds. Berries are rich in antioxidants that will keep your skin young and healthy, as well as fibres which helps to prevent overeating because you’ll be fuller for longer periods of time. There are some drawbacks – sometimes people may be allergic to certain varieties; so it’s possible for someone to develop an allergy and then form rashes (provided they don’t know what type of berry it is).
- Coconut Chips:
Chips! When we hear this word, what comes to mind? A fun snack (especially if they’re salty) that not only tastes good but is also healthy. Coconut chips are rich in iron and other healthful fats which has made them popular among health-conscious people. An average serving of these delicious snacks contains 115 calories and only 8 grams of sugar; so there really isn’t much bad about these crispy treats.
You can eat them anytime throughout the day without worrying about gaining weight or increasing cholesterol levels because of added sugar. Yet despite how nutritious they are, many people would prefer going with a healthier alternative such as baked potato chips instead of deep-fried versions – especially since they don’t feel satisfied after eating one handful- although some say no substitute will ever taste quite like the original either way so it’s up to you!
- Nutrition Bars:
You can also indulge in some healthy and nutritious snack bars with egg whites, figs, dates, and nuts. These snacks have a high amount of protein and act as great breakfasts when you need to make the most out of your time while eating. The pros: they are a rich source of many nutrients like vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin. The cons: there might be sugar or flavors that aren’t so beneficial for one’s health if eaten too often; these ingredients may make up about 10% of the entire bar.
6. Baked Snacks:
Baked goods are always the healthier alternative when compared with fried ones. They’re packed full of nutritious benefits without any negative side-effects on the body. Your fatty intake is much lower when you eat baked stuff rather than oily foodstuff. When you deep fry these items, some may contain Advanced Glycation Endproducts from the starch. When the starches come into contact with high heat and produce advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), they can form carcinogens that are harmful to the body. Baked goods, then, should be your new go-to!
So next time, try baking up a batch of those chicken nuggets or chips instead of frying them up in oil – this way you’ll avoid excess carbs and fats while still getting your delicious snack cravings satisfied! Or even better – bake it up during dinnertime alongside a healthy salad for an easy weeknight meal!
Good and bad: Some of the benefits with eating baked food is that they do not have any added fats which can build up in your body, making it fatter. You also won’t need to worry about baking foods containing anything unhealthy or harmful to your health – from frying oils to preservatives. But beware of what you’re buying! There are some items which may contain trans-fat since it’s cheaper than others and lasts longer than other foods.
7. Healthy Natural Snacks:
These kinds of snacks are an excellent way to keep your body healthy and well-maintained. They are snacks carefully selected with the intention to give your body some necessary fats and nutrients. Processed foods that do not contain natural sugars, flavours or ingredients may harm you in the long-run. As such, it is advised that one eats their daily dose of healthy snacks like fruit and salad for breakfast; just so that they would always feel fresh even at lunchtime when hunger has started setting in.
The good and the bad: Natural foods contain all of the nutrients necessary for healthiness in both short-term, medium-term, and long-term effects. They provide energy while keeping you fueled with minerals, protein and essential vitamins – they do this all in the most natural state that they can produce it. That being said, there are also downsides to natural food – some things might only be digestible when cooked (though still natural), so make sure you don’t neglect cooking your food.
8. Nutritional Snacks:
Nutritional snacks – just like their name suggests – are loaded with essential nutrients for your body. Whether it’s eaten as breakfast or a light bite during the midday hours, these yummy treats will leave you feeling energized and ready to take on anything that comes your way. A popular choice among many people is granola bars!
- This lentil spread pita bread makes a great breakfast too. Add cooked lentils, salt, pepper, lemon juice of one tablespoon into the food processor and process them until they are completely blended together.
- Add the sunflower seeds, finely chopped celery, and scallion.
- Microwave the pita at high temperature for about a minute and serve it with the spread.
This dish is satisfying, containing lentils which provide a lot of fiber and keep you fuller for longer than usual. Sunflower seeds contain vitamins A, E, B1, folate and niacin – making them perfect for an on-the-go snack that supplies your body with all the nutrients it needs to stay energized until dinner rolls around. What could be wrong? Some people might experience reactions or allergies from eating this dish – but then again those are always risks when consuming anything new (or even sometimes old).
Snacks can be both a delicious and satisfying addition to watching your favorite films, but why not switch up what you’re eating for something healthier? Read on for some inspiration so that you can maintain a balance between enjoying yourself while maintaining healthy habits.
