More and more people are coming to understand that snacking on limited portions of healthy foods throughout the day is a great way to increase the metabolism and work toward losing body fat. I’m often asked for some ideas for healthy snacks, so here are a few of my favorites:
- Almonds. Look for whole, unsalted almonds.
- Fresh Vegetables. Whenever possible cut-up fresh vegetables for snacks, such as carrots, cucumbers, celery, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
- Whole Fruits. Apples, Grapes, Oranges, Peaches, Plums, etc. If you substitute dried fruits, be sure to get the kind without added sugar. Dried apricots are a good choice because they’re high in fiber.
- Hard Boiled Egg Whites. Egg whites are high in quality protein.
- Turkey Jerky. The big downfall to any jerky is that it’s loaded with salt. If you have high blood pressure, this may prove to be more sodium than you need. Limit your quantities in any case. I picked turkey jerky just because it’s free of all the red meat stigma, but if you like beef, that’s almost as good.
Many people use protein bars or “meal replacement bars” as a snack. For those who are unconcerned about added sugar and body fat, this is probably ok. But most of these bars either contain dangerous artificial sweeteners or high quantities of added sugar, usually in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Some brands have both. If you’re going to get protein bars, make sure they are high in protein and fiber and free of artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup. Look for more natural sweeteners such as brown rice syrup and organic cane syrup. It still counts as added sugar, but they’re at least a bit more wholesome than sugar or HFCS. Also, beware of the total calories in a bar. You may need to cut it into segments for your snack portion. You might also try eating them frozen.
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