No matter if you’re trying to maintain, gain, or lose weight, eating healthy food can improve your skin, energy and boost your mood. For between meals or when nighttime cravings hit, try out these foods for some healthy snacks without all the packaging and processing your average granola bar goes through.
Throw them in a salad, or mix them into some quinoa and veggies! Garbanzo beans are a great source of fiber and protein, and take on any taste you add to them. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil and pour strained beans onto the sheet, and season as you’d like! (A personal favorite is cumin.)
A childhood favorite for a good reason! You can use bananas, apples, or pears and switch it up daily. Opt for a peanut butter with low sodium content and no added sugar, or grind out your own butter at Whole Foods. Almond, sunflower or low-fat powdered peanut butter are also great alternatives!
Slice up some celery, carrots or cucumber and find a hummus with no added oils! You can prepare your veggies ahead of time to make on-the-go snacking super simple, or bring a filled Tupperware to pop in the fridge at your work.
Ditch the Yoplait and opt for a Greek or plant-based yogurt that has little to no added sugar. You can make your snack super sweet by throwing in some berries or banana, and top with chia seeds, honey, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Instead of buying packaged granola from your local grocery store, pick up some puffed grains, nuts, and fruit. Coat a baking sheet in a thin layer of coconut oil and add on your choice of whole grains, nuts, and berries. Top off the tray with agave, honey, or coconut flakes and bake at 350 degrees until your granola has the crispiness you’re craving.
Customize your smoothie at home and throw in some frozen spinach, kale, or spirulina powder. For your liquid base, try out unsweetened almond milk, coconut water or water and add some frozen fruit for sweetness. You’ll get a great dose of fiber and nutrients without even noticing!
Use two tablespoons of chia seeds for every half cup of milk in a glass jar. Go with your preference, whether it’s almond, oat, cashew, or low-fat milk and add in a sweetener of your choice. Try out vanilla extract or cacao powder for a super sweet treat. Pop your Mason jar in the fridge and leave it in for a few hours for a thick and sweet dessert. Top with banana slices, coconut flakes, berries, or cacao nibs.
If you’re looking for an easy way to incorporate some protein into your daily snacking, try hard boiling some eggs. They’re easy to grab and an efficient way to hit your macros (if you’re tracking)!
Try out some steamed soybeans and season as you like with red pepper, Himalayan sea salt, or liquid aminos. Rich in minerals and high in protein, this plant-based snack is great for vegetarians on the go.
Cut out the gluten and opt for unsalted rice cakes. For a sweet bite, add on honey, banana slices, or peanut butter. For a savory snack that has some healthy fats, put some avocado slices on your rice cake and drizzle over the top with balsamic vinegar or some black pepper. Yum!
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