Snack Well and Live Well : 20 Healthy, Delicious Snacks

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Snack Well and Live Well : 20 Healthy, Delicious Snacks

One of the toughest challenges for most of us is finding the best way to eat healthy – not just for weight loss, but for feeling our best and living productive lives. It’s impossible to accomplish anything when your energy level is at rock bottom because your body doesn’t have the correct fuel. Bottom line, some foods are better for our bodies than others, and it’s important to pay attention to your body’s signals. Our bodies are programmed to function as the perfect system, each organ working to make the whole better. The body is made to prevent illness and even heal itself when we get sick, but it must have proper nutrition to do the job.

We’ve all watched people diet to lose a bunch of weight and end up putting whatever they lost plus more right back on. That’s because losing weight shouldn’t be the main goal in the first place. Living a fulfilling life is one of the most powerful goals we can focus on because it encompasses not only how we look, but how we feel. Life changes made to reach this goal must be sustainable. We’ll talk more about sustainable goals later, but for today, let’s start with some fun, tasty changes that are easy to make and maintain – snacks.

Too often, I hear people talking about diets that say things like “no snacking between meals.” Don't get me wrong; I understand where they're coming from, but... What? What world do these people live in? In our busy lives, snacks are essential. Really. So, here’s a list of snacks to help get anybody over the hump, satisfy cravings for sweet, salty, and savory, and the best part, they’re healthy. Most are old favorites, and you might find a new twist to liven-up a staple or two, no recipes necessary (in most cases).

Apple slices and cheese (I like mozzarella and cheddar)

Apple slices and reduced fat peanut butter

Grilled chicken strips with light ranch, honey mustard, or red pepper vinaigrette

Turkey and spinach meatballs – Ok, so a bit of a recipe here, but easy peasy. Here goes: 

Ground turkey, Bad Byron’s Butt Rub (I know. It’s a southern thang. You can use salt and pepper to taste instead, but believe me, Butt Rub is worth trying ;-), chopped onions, minced garlic, eggs (just enough to hold it all together). Bake on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil) All ingredients to taste.

Gluten-free wheat crackers and Laughing Cow cheese

Gluten-free pita chips and tuna (you can use tuna salad with boiled eggs, chopped onions and light mayo, or just aluminum packed tuna without the extras)

Salmon and light cream cheese spread with chopped purple onions and flat bread (Pink salmon also comes in aluminum packs you don’t have to drain)

Strawberry crepes with fresh strawberries, light cream cheese, and yogurt

Graham crackers and grapes

Banana pudding bites - Nilla wafers, banana slices, and cool whip

Fruit and yogurt smoothies (variety is the spice of life, but my fave is frozen strawberries and bananas w/Almond Breeze unsweetened) – If you need to sweeten it, use Truvia, Sweet Leaf, or Splenda instead of refined sugar. Honey’s also fine.

Chicken quesadillas with chunky salsa

Snack mix – (whole grain cereal, pretzels, popcorn, nuts, raisins, cranberries)

Fat-free yogurt and graham crackers

Fat-free yogurt and fruit with toasted whole-grain waffles

Hummus and turkey pita pockets

Baked cinnamon apples with raisins and real butter (yep, use the real stuff)

Blackberry crepes with cream cheese (trick here is to buy ready-made crepes)

Oatmeal/squash bread (okay. Second recipe, but it’s easy too)

1 cup each oats & butternut squash
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 cups skim milk
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons honey
½ cup applesauce

Fruit yogurt with bran cereal or something like All Fiber (Raisin Bran is good, too, but higher in refined sugar)

Go forth, and snack well ;-)

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