OK lets face it, snacks are a part of life. We live very active lifestyles, so we tend to get hungry during the day, especially in between meals. Whether you are at work or at home, there is no escaping that urge to snack on something delicious. But snacks don't always have to be seen as unhealthy, in fact there are plenty of options when it comes to healthy snack ideas.
An apple with peanut butter for example is a great choice for a healthy snack. Apples are high in fiber, and peanut butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy unsaturated fats. It also delivers a small amount of potassium, magnesium, and Vitamin E. Simply slice up an apple into equal slices, spread on some peanut butter and enjoy. Even if you are not a huge fan of apples, the two combined offers up a whole new taste.
Another great example of a healthy between meal snack is trail mix. Trail mix offers a wide range of dried fruits, nuts, seeds, oats and even the occasional chocolate. The nuts and seeds off a great source of healthy fats (monosaturated and polyunsaturated) and are also a perfect way to add some protein to your diet. Fruits will provide a whole assortment of vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars. Oats are a great way to stay heart healthy because they are known for protecting the body against heart disease, and even offer up some fiber.
When it comes to healthy snack ideas, smoothies are one of those that always seem to top the charts. The choice of smoothie is entirely up to you, a green smoothies (vegetable) or fruit smoothies, but when it comes to taste nothing can compare to a fruit smoothie. Any assortment of fruits will do, it does not have to be an old fashion strawberry and banana smoothie. Be creative. Mixing and matching different fruits not only changes the taste of the smoothie, but it also exposes your body to a wider range of vitamins and minerals.
Eating healthy does not have to be a lot of work, and although sometimes convenience wins out when it comes to unhealthy eating habits, there are options. One tip that always helps is to take some time in the beginning of the week to prep your fruits and vegetables for easy access. This will help trump the convenience most unhealthy foods have over eating healthy.
