Mastering the Art of Snacking

If there’s one thing around food that gets a bad rep, it’s snacking. Let’s be honest, everyone really enjoys a good midday snack break! Don’t fret, because good news, snacking does not have to derail your health goals. With a little bit of intention and mindfulness, we can use midday cravings to help support energy levels, mood, and overall well-being. In this blog post you will learn how to simply snack smarter- not less!

Choose Whole Food Snacks

One of the easiest ways to think about snacking is by sticking to whole foods as your snacks. Whole foods are any types of foods that have been processed or refined as little as possible and are free from additives. Think apples, bananas, nuts, and seeds. Produce can vary from season to season so keep that in mind as you shop for them in the store.

Pair Produce with Healthy Fats

Try combining your fruits and vegetables with nut butter or seed butter. This sometimes helps with not only adding some texture to your snack but also adding flavor and variety. Try dipping apples or celery into peanut butter. Peanut butter is a classic nut butter, and you can typically find healthier peanut butters with limited ingredients at any grocery store. While you’re there, look for almond, cashew, or even sunflower butter to add protein and healthy fats to some afternoon snacks.

Prep Your Own Snacks

While there are some healthy premade snacks at the grocery store, try making your own instead. A homemade trail mix, protein bites, or even granola bars if you’re feeling up to it are three easy snacks you can prep ahead of time that make it easy to grab on the go.

Prioritize Protein

When you are looking for snacks that will keep you fuller for longer, try to consume snacks that are higher in protein. Beef jerky or beef sticks, hard boiled eggs, and yogurt parfaits are a few easy snack ideas. When looking at beef jerky and beef sticks, be sure to check the label ensuring that it is high in protein, low in fat, and has little to no added sugar. The same goes for Greek yogurt as added sugar tends to hide in this!

Smarter Savory Options

For all those savory snackers out there who are really looking for convenience more than anything, look for snacks that are air-popped. There are many snacks at the grocery store that aren’t fried and have better looking macros than your typical bag of potato chips. Pop-corners, pop-chips, and even popcorn are all great examples of this!

Just remember that healthy snacking doesn’t have to feel complicated or even restrictive. Always keep in mind it’s best to choose foods that both make you feel your best and will make you feel fuller for longer. Stick to the basics and you too can snack smarter!