Sometimes we all get a little “snacky”. How do we take our snacking to a healthier level? Two simple steps are to choose snacks that are good for our body and to plan for our “snack attacks”. This is why I wanted to share some yummy easy snack ideas with you!
Snack Attack
In my own fitness journey, I found that I love snacking right around 5 when I started working on supper & late at night (when the kids are all in bed, it calls for celebration right?). The way I’ve addressed the 5 o’clock snack attack is to plan for an afternoon snack between 3:30 & 4:30. My sugar levels were dropping by the time I was getting to supper, and I was at my “weakest point” right when I started prepping that meal (and I realized I still had a whole hour of cooking before I could eat). I plan a healthy snack with some protein, and my energy & sugar levels are so much more balanced until dinnertime. Below, we’ll jump into some of my favorite healthy (and protein-filled) snacks! Late at night is still my biggest weakness. Let’s be real…if my hubby & I are going to chill and eat a bowl of icecream, it’s late at night. Doing a 75 day challenge in which I couldn’t have any “cheat foods” helped me realize how many healthy options there are that I actually love! The key is to figure out what you like & to choose those foods instead of ones packed with pure-sugar. If you want to find out more about why sugar is bad for you & good healthy substitutes, click here.
Let’s Jump Right in To Our Favorite Snacks
-Smoothies and Smoothie bowls. You can make smoothie bowls in many different delicious flavors, and it’s like eating an icecream treat. Even my kids love smoothie bowls for a quick and easy breakfast. My 14-year-old daughter also likes to hop in the kitchen & make a strawberry-banana smoothie with almond milk.
-Hummus. I’ve found that I LOVE hummus with bell peppers, celery, with veggie crisps, or on a low-carb chicken wrap.
-Fruit. Berries are full of antioxidants. I’ve found that making a mixed “fruit bowl” with berries already washed & ready to eat gets eaten a lot faster than just containers of fruit straight from the store. An apple with natural peanut butter & even a sprinkle of cinnamon is also a snack my kids enjoy.
-Nuts. Almonds, cashews, and other nuts are a good source of protein. I’ve discovered that I’m totally addicted to the “wonderful pistachios.” Nuts are good for you, but they are high in fats & calories, so it’s ideal to enjoy these in moderation. ¼ cup of nuts is a great way to add protein to any snack. You can also find a lot of pre-package bags of mixed nuts at the store. Just keep an eye out for dried fruit in things like trail mix, because they have a lot of hidden “added sugars.” You can even make your own trail mix with a blend of your favorite nuts & chocolate chips (like lily’s brand or bake believe).
-Dried fruit. If you can find true dried fruit, this can be a delicious treat. Just keep in mind that most of the dried fruit in grocery stores also contain added sugars.
-Energy balls. My family loves making energy balls or even forming them into bars. We’ll make a batch on the weekend & my boys will snack on it all week long!
-Greek yogurt. Beware of all of the sugars added to yogurt at the grocery store. You can sweeten plain nonfat yogurt yourself, using things like honey or maple syrup (my personal favorite). We love to add a sprinkle of berries, or cacao powder (like cocoa but full of anti-oxidents), or chocolate chips (lilies or bake believe) or chocolate coconut clusters.
-Perfect bars. These are so delicious & perfect for a late-night treat. They are higher in calories than some of the other snacks on this list, so keep that in mind. My family loves these! With a family of 6, I’ve found it more cost effective to make my own. Check out the easy and delicious recipe here!
-Quest Protein Bars. These have higher protein & less calories than a lot of protein bars on the market. Nearly every flavor has chocolate chips or a white chocolate chips in it. That means heating these bars up just a little takes them to a deeper level of yumminess! The only drawback is that a lot of the flavors include sucralose/Splenda, which is a sweetener I try to avoid. It is usually the last ingredient on the label, which means it only has a small amount. There are also a few flavors without the sucralose (including “chocolate peanut butter” and “double chocolate chunk”), so I try to stick with those whenever I can.
-RX bars. The label on these bars is super clean: ingredients like egg whites, nuts, & dates. It’s as simple as that! Because of the dates, it can have less protein & more natural sugars. However, it’s a great protein-snack for on the go!
-Chicken or tuna salad. You can take a can of chicken or tuna & mix it with easy homemade mayo, Dijon mustard, seasonings, relish or grapes, & other add-ins to make it just the way you like it. This is a great way to get in extra protein. Just be aware of extra fats in things like mayonnaise or other wet ingredients.
Think about it…
When do you have most of your snack attacks? I love being able to use yummy easy snack ideas to deal with these cravings. I hope you feel better-equipped to start planning ahead for when those moments come. You can choose to give your body a fuel it craves instead of giving in to the temptations of the moment. Snack attacks can become a fun time of enjoying food you love while still feeling great!
