Most Americans are big snackers. They feel the need to eat a snack in between every meal and sometimes dessert after every dinner. It’s not always bad to snack throughout the day but it can slowly start to cause terrible eating habits. One of the best things to do if you are a snacker is to find healthier options to eat. Instead of going for the chips, maybe have some fruit or vegetables.
The Importance of Smart Snack Choices
Overeating isn’t healthy for you, especially when you eat things that have high sodium and sugar. If you are constantly hungry then it’s recommended to either have a bigger meal or eat healthier snacks. Even though it might seem like the most obvious thing, most people still struggle with being hungry. When people get into the habit of snacking all day, it can start to become unhealthy and lead to things like gaining weight and becoming out of shape. You must add fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, etc. into your daily meals/snacks. It’s easier to get these nutrients in while eating snacks. A good way to do this is to eat one of these before going to a sport, the gym, or leaving the house for a while. They might not be filling but they will give you energy.
Healthier Snack Swaps
The most common snack foods that people eat are filled with carbs, sugar, fats, and excess sodium. When it comes to snacking, it’s best to stay away from those types of foods. In your meals, it’s more common to see these types of things so save it for the meals and not the snacks. You don’t need to overdue more than what you are already intaking. Everyone has snack cravings throughout the day. Maybe you want a quick snack when you get home from school or work or are going somewhere. Whatever snacks are your favorite, there is most likely an alternative healthier version. Something like this can help your health and make you feel guilty for eating unhealthy snacks throughout the day.
Snack Swaps
Healthy alternatives over processed foods. Here are some food ideas for when you want to eat something healthier vs. having something unhealthy.
- Instead of chips, maybe try sun chips as a healthy alternative. Another type of snack like chips that’s healthier is popcorn. Popcorn is a great alternative to chips but can still make you feel like you’re not eating healthy. It’s not the healthiest but it’s a highly chosen food over chips for eating healthier.
- Another alternative for cookie dough/sweet treats includes homemade cookie dough that is packed with protein. For a healthy cookie dough alternative, you can add things like yogurt, peanut butter, honey, protein powder, flour, and chocolate chips. (For more ideas/recipes, you can look on Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, etc.)
Did You Know?
Every day, we can all find ourselves lurking around in the kitchen for a snack. Breaking the old eating habits and eating healthy can be hard, especially for people who rely on snacks throughout the day. Most people don’t ever check the nutrition facts on the back to see how much sugar, fats, and sodium you are actually intake. For example, you might think you are eating healthy yogurt but in reality, the yogurt has just as much sugar as a chocolate bar. If you are trying to eat healthier, it’s always the most important option to check the nutrition label. Make sure that what you eat isn’t bad for you. Check the sugar, fats, sodium, etc. It’s crucial to become more aware of what you are eating and how it can impact your health.
The Bottom Line
Overall, it’s very important when snacking to make sure that you put in eating healthy every once and a while. Even though it’s hard to stick to healthy eating goals, we tend to eat more than we intend to. If you choose to follow this and find alternatives for unhealthy snacks, you can get the best of both worlds. You can enjoy tasty foods that are your favorite while also maintaining a nutritious diet. It’s best to take small steps when starting to eat healthy and be more intentional with your choices moving forward.
By: Erin Watson