Even though snacking has developed a "bad image," snacks can be an important part of your diet.
They can provide energy in the middle of the day or when you exercise. A healthy snack between meals can also decrease your hunger and keep you from overeating at meal time.
There are many snacks to choose from, and certainly not all snacks are healthy or will help you manage your weight. Try out any (or all) of these healthy snack options and let us know how that works for you!
1. Popcorn
Popcorn is a healthy snack when it's air-popped and served without ingredients high in fat, salt, or sugar. Popcorn is high in important nutrients, including fiber. It is one of the world's healthiest and most popular snack foods. It is loaded with important nutrients and offers a variety of health benefits.
A 100g serving of air-popped corn gives a total of 387 calories, 13 grams of protein, 78 grams of carbs, and 5 grams of fat. This serving also contains a whopping 15 grams of fiber, which is extremely high. This makes it one of the world’s best sources of fiber.
2. Dark chocolate
Some research suggests that dark chocolate may help lower the risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation and insulin resistance, increase the diversity of the gut microbiome, and improve brain function.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a 101-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70–85% cocoa solids provides 604 calories, 7.87 g of protein, 43.06 g of fat, 46.36 g of carbohydrates, 11.00 g of dietary fiber.
3. Boiled eggs
They're tasty, they're filling, and they're good for your health at any age. Eggs contain the highest biological value (or gold standard) for protein. One egg has about only 72 calories, but 6 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat, along with iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids.
Hard-boiled eggs are an excellent source of lean protein. They'll fill you up without packing in too many calories, which is helpful if you want to lose weight.
4. Greek yogurt
Greek yogurt is an easy, filling and high-protein snack or breakfast option that's typically considered to be healthier than regular yogurt.
Combining Greek yogurt with nutritious foods and toppings can boost a bowl's nutritional value and flavor without adding sugar, refined carbohydrates and saturated fat.
According to the USDA, a 7-ounce container of plain, low-fat Greek yogurt contains 146 Calories, 20 g protein, 4 g fat, 8 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 7 g sugars.
5. Avocados
This tasty and unique fruit packs a nutritious punch and is a delicious way to help increase fruit and vegetable intake. Avocados are virtually the only fresh fruit with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, the “good” fats, and they are sodium- and cholesterol-free.
Avocados are ideal for weight loss and weight management because they help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories, leaving you satisfied in-between meals.
6. Carrots
It is crunchy, tasty, and highly nutritious. Carrots are a particularly good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants.
They also have a number of health benefits. They’re a weight-loss-friendly food and have been linked to lower cholesterol levels and improved eye health. What’s more, their carotene antioxidants have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer.
Carrots’ water content ranges from 86–95%, and the edible portion consists of around 10% carbs.
The nutrition facts for two small-to-medium raw carrots (100 grams) are 41 Calories, 88% Water, 0.9 grams Protein, 9.6 grams Carbs, 4.7 grams Sugar, 2.8 grams Fiber, 0.2 grams Fat.
7. Dates
Dates are high in several nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants, all of which may provide health benefits ranging from improved digestion to a reduced risk of disease.
There are several ways to add dates to your diet. One popular way to eat them is as a natural sweetener in various dishes. They also make a great snack.
It’s easiest to find dates in their dried form, though these are higher in calories than fresh fruit so it is important to eat them in moderation.
Dates are definitely worth adding to your diet, as they are both nutritious and delicious.
