Did you know that over 80% of adults in the United States don’t get enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diet? Many of us want to improve our diets, but because your diet is essentially made up of habits, it can be extremely difficult to break away from a bad one.
If you’ve been struggling to start new habits and improve your health, we can help! One of the best ways to make better food choices is by giving yourself plenty of healthy snacks throughout the day.
The trick is to ensure that you don’t reach for the candy and chips because you stay satisfied. Keep yourself full with nutritious (and delicious) snacks and you won’t even think about the unhealthy ones.
To get a few ideas for healthy snacks that taste great too, just keep reading!
1. Yogurt and Berries
When you’re thinking about healthy snacks to buy, one of the first foods on your list should be berries. Berries are nature’s candy, and though they should be refrigerated, they’re an easy snack that can be mixed with all sorts of things to create delicious combinations.
The best of these mixtures? Berries and yogurt!
Yogurt can be a little tricky, as many brands are loaded with sugar. To be safe, it’s a good idea to stick with greek yogurt. But don’t worry, the berries will provide plenty of sweetness!
Sprinkle a mix of colorful berries into half a cup of greek yogurt. You’ll feel like you’re cheating, but you’re actually getting tons of nutrients including calcium, protein, and antioxidants.
2. Apples and Peanut Butter
Apples and peanut butter – the classic salty-sweet healthy snack. Not only does this combination taste amazing, but apples and peanut butter create the ultimate heart-healthy treat.
Apples contain a large amount of fiber and antioxidants, while peanut butter is packed with protein and helps to lower bad cholesterol.
Remember that eating whole foods or those with as few ingredients as possible is important. When picking your peanut butter, go to a store that allows you to make your own or check to ensure that the only ingredient listed on the back is peanuts.
3. Mixed Nuts
For a filling, healthy snack that you can eat anywhere, pick up some mixed nuts on your next grocery trip. You can buy a pre-packaged mix or make your own, but look for almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and cashews. Or, you can follow this link to find outΒ what is the healthiest nuts to eat.
If you do buy pre-packaged, be careful of sodium content. You don’t want to ruin your healthy choice by overloading your body with salt.
Because nuts are fairly high in calories, you don’t want to eat a lot of them. But they’re so filling, you should be able to eat a handful and feel satisfied.
4. Celery and Cream Cheese
For those looking for a low-carb snack that satisfies, reach for celery and cream cheese! Celery is a virtually no-calorie food that reduces inflammation and prevents cancer with its antioxidant content – eat as much as you want!
Though cream cheese contains some protein and is a good source of vitamin A, you should stick to a small amount, as it’s relatively high in calories.
5. Almonds and Dark Chocolate
Is there any better combination than almonds and dark chocolate? Whether you buy the almonds coated in chocolate or purchase them separately but eat them together, you can’t go wrong with this sweet and salty treat.
Dark chocolate is perfect for those with a bit of a sweet tooth, as it satisfies the craving while providing a much healthier snack than white or milk chocolate. This is because it’s full of flavanols and magnesium that help to lower blood pressure and protect heart health.
6. Kale Chips
When it comes to healthy foods, leafy vegetables are at the top of the list. But not many people want to eat raw lettuce or spinach as a snack. Luckily, kale chips exist! Kale is a superfood, packed with fiber and antioxidants to boost your digestive health and reduce your risk of cancer.
If your office has a healthy vending machine available, you might be able to find kale chips in it. If not, it’s easy to make your own. All you have to do is toss together a cup of kale leaves with a tablespoon of olive oil and a dash of salt – put them in the oven for about 10 minutes and you have kale chips!
7. Hard-Boiled Egg
Eggs are known as a miracle food for a reason. They can be added to just about any meal or eaten alone and contain a great deal of protein, vitamin D, and other nutrients.
Hard-boiled eggs are a filling but light option, keeping you satisfied for hours without making you uncomfortably full. Eggs do contain cholesterol, but as long as you eat them in moderation, you won’t be putting yourself at risk. On the contrary, eating an egg or two a day is great for your health!
8. Edamame
Never heard of edamame? It’s unripened soybeans and packs a punch with its protein, antioxidant, and mineral content. In fact, one cup of edamame contains about 17 grams of protein!
Whether you work from home or in an office, take advantage of the freezer! You can find bags of frozen edamame that can be tossed in the microwave for a minute or two to create the perfect steamed snack.
Enjoy These Healthy Snacks for a Healthier Life
The two pillars of health are diet and exercise, with sleep at the base holding them up. If you work to improve all three, you might be surprised by how much better you feel in your day to day life.
It doesn’t take a lot! Small steps in the right direction are better than no steps at all. And swapping your daily bag of chips with a few healthy snacks is a fantastic place to start!
Looking for more ways you can better your health and overall quality of life through diet? Be sure to check out our blog!
