Health Tip Tuesday: The truth about snacking and building one that nourishes your body
By: Tricia
Snacking can be an important tool for helping meet your nutrition goals. A good snack can help provide extra fiber, stave off hunger cravings, and allow us to feel full until our next meal. A snack is typically not meant to provide as much nutrition as a full meal but rather a smaller version that allows us to feel satiated between meals. To get the most โbang for your buckโ when it comes to snacks, combine multiple macronutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Note in the list below, that some foods can act as both a protein and a fat source.
Carbohydrate:
โข pineapple, apple, pears, berries, banana, oranges
โข celery, carrots, sugar snap peas, edamame, broccoli, peppers
โข any of your favorite fruit or vegetable
Protein:
โข beans, hummus, eggs, yogurt, cheese, seeds including chia, sesame, pumpkin
Fat:
โข unsalted nuts, nut butters, oils, avocados, tahini
Combo of Carbohydrate, Protein, or Fat snack Ideas include:
โข Hummus with your favorite veggie
โข Yogurt with Fresh fruit: raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, mango
โข String Cheese and grapes or a pear
โข Veggies like carrots, cucumbers, celery, or broccoli with varying bean dips
โข Peanut butter and celery with pumpkin seeds
โข Nut butter and fruit with apple, banana with flax meal
โข Figs with goat cheese
โข Smoothies with fruit, veggie, and nut butter or Greek yogurt, or protein powder
โข Chia pudding topped with fruit and/or nuts or seeds
โข Veggies like Cucumbers, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli with ranch dip
โข Hard-boiled Egg with avocado or guacamole
โข Cooked quinoa with fruit topped with nuts
Single macronutrient snack ideas include:
โข Pre-packaged unsalted nuts
โข Shrimp with cocktail sauce
โข Raisins
โข Seeds such as sesame or pumpkin
โข Olives
โข Wasabi edamame
โข Popcorn with parmesan cheese