August 2011

Whether you’re running late to work or class or you’re a parent on taxi duty after school, it’s a great idea to have nutritious, tasty “eat on the go” snacks available.  Fortunately, there are many healthy snack options that taste great and satisfy that mid-morning or afternoon hunger. But what do you do when healthy options aren’t readily available when you need them?

Just like the Boy Scout’s motto, the key is to be prepared.  We’ve all been there…… when there are no good options around it’s easy to run through the fast food drive-up for a burger and fries or grab a candy bar when hunger hits.  Sure, it fills you up but usually with a load of unhealthy calories (and probably some guilt to go with it).  However, with a little preparation, you can do without those unwanted calories and avoid the “overly hungry” state where your good intentions can be swept to the side.   In the long run, you will save time, money AND improve the health of you and your family.

You can also improve your snack choices by becoming a label reader.  Don’t be fooled by packaging claims when looking for snack ideas.  Some of the phrases that imply a healthy choice like “whole grain”, “low-fat, “enriched” and “all-natural” can be misleading.  For example, an “all-natural” juice could be loaded with sugar (a natural ingredient), and a “whole grain” cereal may have very little whole grain in it.  Look at the ingredient list to make sure what you think is in a food item really is what’s there.

One simple but very effective way to snack healthier is to keep small zip lock bags (or better yet, a reusable container) of dried fruit or nuts in your car, locker and desk.  The vending machine junk food is a lot easier to avoid if you have healthy and tasty snacks close at hand.

Whether you are in the mood for something sweet or salty, here are some healthy and easy to prepare snacks:

          ·    Dried fruit without added sugar

          ·    Lightly salted nuts

          ·    Frozen grapes

        ·    Fresh fruit

          ·    Low or non-fat Greek yogurt

          ·    Apple sauce (unsweetened) sprinkled with cinnamon

          ·    Laughing Cow Light Swiss Original wedge

          ·    Edamame 

          ·    Lite microwave popcorn

          ·    Olives

          ·    Hummus with fresh vegetables or 100% whole wheat pita bread.

          ·    Lara Bars (or make your own healthy nutrition bar)

These are just some of the great snack ideas we have come across.  Drop us a line and let us know what your favorite healthy snacks are.

Lead the best life,

Achieve-Life

A simple plan for healthy, permanent weight loss. Visit us to learn how the Achieve-Life weight loss program can help you achieve the life you've always wanted.

 

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