By way of definition, a snack is a small portion of any food eaten between meals. This could be a snack food (i.e. food that are generally in small quantity and not consumed as main meals) —items like potato chips or baby carrots. It could also simply be a small amount of any food.
Snacks, generally referred to as junk foods have been implicated in so many diseases and medical conditions. They are known to cause general weigh gain, obesity and at time cardiovascular heart diseases, so many people tend to stay away from them now while other cannot for one reason or the other.
The work schedule of some people means that they cannot sit and eat overtime the body demands it. This prompts them to snack away on several junk foods. While eating good foods remains the best option, when you cannot avoid it, there are “healthy snacks” that you can eat.
Also, when we exercise or engage in activities such as reading, we like or have cravings to eat things as we do them or after the activities. Healthy snacks can serve these purposes.
A List of Healthy Snacks That We All Should Know
These foods healthy snacks list will contain foods that can be found and bought anywhere and those that are only available in some regions — they are only few in some other countries and often expensive. However, this post will try as much as possible to list more snack foods that are available everywhere — those that can be found in grocery stores.
You can go through the pages by clicking from 2 to 8 below to see all the foods and why they make very good snacks.
1. Dark Chocolates as Healthy Snacks
Dark chocolate can be a healthy snack when you eat the type with at least 60 percent cocoa content. This type of dark chocolate has been linked to reduced heart disease risk and even lower body fat numbers in people who snack on it more often.
Also, because dark chocolate has a more intense flavor than the sugar-laden milk varieties, you’ll be satisfied after eating a small quantity.
2. Carrots
Carrots are nutritious, available everywhere, convenient and easy to carry around. When buying your carrots, only select dark orange ones that are crisp and firm. Not soft ones that are changing colours.
Carrots contains a considerable amount of beta-carotene which works for good eyesight, healthy skin and resistance to infection. The potassium present in carrot assists in moderation of blood pressure.
Carrot also contains fiber which helps in maintaining a healthy intestinal tract, controls blood sugar and promote healthy cholesterol levels. Carrots also contain calcium, vitamin C, iron and vitamin K, which promotes healthy blood coagulation.
3. Banana — a healthy snack (day or night)
This is my favorite because it has been packaged naturally for easy movement. I can easily peel of the skin and eat anywhere I am. If you kind of work requires energy, banana can help you because it comes with the added benefit of cramp-prevention. We made reference to this under our post which listed foods that help relief menstruation cramps and pains.
If you have also read the list of foods that you can snack on at night, you would find banana there. Even though it is not advisable to eat a few hours before going to sleep, banana is still one of the healthy foods you can use as snacks before going to bed.
4. Almonds
If you want to make a healthy grocery list, then you should have almonds on that list when next you are going to the grocery store.
Almonds, often referred to in some quarters as the most healthy food on earth contains healthy fats. Almond is a high-fat food that is also good for your health. Yes, you would already know that there are fats that are good for your health if you did read this article when we posted it.
Almonds have a lot of health benefits that can be written as a separate article. They have cholesterol-lowering effects and the ability to reduce heart disease risks.
5. Pumpkin Seeds
Before my fellow Nigerians start asking if this is even available in Nigeria, yeah it is. I have come across it at one store at Chevron in Lekki, Lagos State. They even have an online store —you can get pumpkins on this page — http://www.evronfoodstore.com/pumpkins. I will also make effort to check at Shoprite outlets, the next time I go to one for groceries.
Pumpkin seeds can make a healthy snack when washed, dried, and nicely roasted. About 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds has about 14 grams of protein. I have seen fitness trainers and dietician recommending this as the perfect pre-workout snack!
6. Hard-boiled Eggs
Eggs are readily available and when boiled can be packed and moved around to eat whenever we need to at them. Hard-boiled eggs are are very good sources of protein. They are low in carbohydrates and simple to prepare — each one only has about 76 calories.
One egg has the following compositions;
Calories: 70
Fat: 5.0g
Carbs: 1.0g
Protein: 6.0g
The yolk contains nutrients necessary for immunity, healthy skin, nerves and vision. It also contains good amounts of B Vitamins, Vitamin A, iron and riboflavin.
7. Other food that you can snack on healthily;
Smoothies, Greek yoghurts, Cottage cheese, Strawberries, Apricots, Celeries, Dried plums (aka prunes), Frozen grapes, Walnuts, Mixed nuts, Tofu sticks.
Others that you may also snack on include Oat bars, baby carrots, Turkey jersey, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Egg White.
ALSO SEE: Fatty Foods: How To Eat Fats To Lose Body Fats
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