Chosing Healthy Snacks
Choosing healthy snacks several times per day can be beneficial in preventing us from getting too hungry, becoming ravenous, and then overeating or choosing “not so healthy” foods (sound familiar?). Snacks can provide us with energy to hold us over until our next meal and provide fuel for our exercise.
For variety and better balance, aim to eat 2 different kinds of foods at each snack such as fruit and yogurt or whole grain crackers and peanut butter. Choosing whole or lightly processed foods for snacks more often will provide greater nutritional value. For example, choose grapes instead of grape juice or whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, and small portions of nuts and seeds at your snacks. Practice moderation with those nutrient lacking snacks (such as potato chips, doughnuts, candy, and cookies).
Keep healthy snacks stocked and ready to go at home so that you are more likely to choose them. Below are some examples of healthy snack choices that you might try.
A piece of fruit (apple, pear) with a low fat Mozzarella cheese stick
Whole grain crackers with natural peanut or almond butter
12 almonds with a piece of fruit (apple, pear, banana, grapes)
Low fat yogurt with berries or whole grain cereal mixed in
Small banana with 1 Tablespoon natural peanut butter (try freezing the banana for a tasty treat)
Whole grain English muffin toasted and topped with pizza sauce, low fat mozzarella cheese, and your favorite veggies. Bake until cheese is melted.
Snacks can be a very important part of a healthy diet. A little planning can lead to healthier snack choices and better overall nutrition.
These tips were graciously provided to Samurai Karate Studio by our friend, Joey Mock, RD, LD; owner of Healthy Habitudes, a Nutrition Education & Coaching service that provides one on one or group counseling for both children and adults. You may reach Joey at 803-629-8850.
If you would like more information about our karate programs, please visit our website at www.samuraikaratestudio.net
For variety and better balance, aim to eat 2 different kinds of foods at each snack such as fruit and yogurt or whole grain crackers and peanut butter. Choosing whole or lightly processed foods for snacks more often will provide greater nutritional value. For example, choose grapes instead of grape juice or whole wheat bread instead of white bread. Focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, and small portions of nuts and seeds at your snacks. Practice moderation with those nutrient lacking snacks (such as potato chips, doughnuts, candy, and cookies).
Keep healthy snacks stocked and ready to go at home so that you are more likely to choose them. Below are some examples of healthy snack choices that you might try.
A piece of fruit (apple, pear) with a low fat Mozzarella cheese stick
Whole grain crackers with natural peanut or almond butter
12 almonds with a piece of fruit (apple, pear, banana, grapes)
Low fat yogurt with berries or whole grain cereal mixed in
Small banana with 1 Tablespoon natural peanut butter (try freezing the banana for a tasty treat)
Whole grain English muffin toasted and topped with pizza sauce, low fat mozzarella cheese, and your favorite veggies. Bake until cheese is melted.
Snacks can be a very important part of a healthy diet. A little planning can lead to healthier snack choices and better overall nutrition.
These tips were graciously provided to Samurai Karate Studio by our friend, Joey Mock, RD, LD; owner of Healthy Habitudes, a Nutrition Education & Coaching service that provides one on one or group counseling for both children and adults. You may reach Joey at 803-629-8850.
If you would like more information about our karate programs, please visit our website at www.samuraikaratestudio.net
Choosing healthy snacks is always a hot topic with clients, because this is often where we sabotage our efforts to eat healthy. The truth is that our society doesn't make it easy to be healthy - especially in the snack category. At practically every street corner it's easy to find cookies, chips, and ice cream. It's not so easy to find snacks that are made from whole foods (grains, nuts, vegetables, fruits, etc.)
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