Level-Up Your Snacking with These Balanced, Healthy Snacks
Keeping my snacking on the healthy side is one of the bigger challenges I face while trying to eat my way toward a more balanced diet. It would be so easy to grab a few cookies or a handful of chips (and sometimes I do just that!), but there’s also a better way to snack.
If you want to eat healthier and balance your diet, give these healthy (but still super tasty and satisfying) snacks a try. They’re all quick and easy, too!
1. Seaweed snacks
Wait, what? Seaweed? Heck yeah! Seaweed snacks are a personal favorite of mine, and they’re extremely healthy. High in vitamins A and C, they’re also one of the only natural, non-animal sources of vitamin B-12. They’re packaged much like crackers, and come in a ton of different flavors.
2. Dried fruit
One of my favorite nutrient-packed snacks is dried fruit, and Made in Nature has plenty of fruits to choose from. Choose your favorite or create your own delicious mix of fruits. My favorites are dried mango or Smyrna figs – they are both so good I really can’t choose.
3. Homemade trail mix
Trail mix isn’t just about GORP (good old fashioned raisins and peanuts.) Get creative! Mix your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruits together for a snack that’s perfectly tailored to your taste buds. You’ll know exactly what you put in, so this is a great way to avoid unnecessary sugar and other unhealthy ingredients.
4. Portable nut butters
Companies like Justin’s Nut Butter sell single-serve packets of their delicious nut butters and they’re the perfect snacking size. And, here’s some great news for anyone with peanut allergies — tree nuts, like almonds, are from a different plant family, You just might be able to try Justin’s fantastic almond butters.
Whichever type of nut butter you prefer, these packs will give you a dose of healthy fats and protein any time of day.
5. Dark chocolate
Craving something a bit more decadent? Dark chocolate is one of my favorite healthier indulgences. The higher the cacao content the better, because a higher percentage means that there’s less overall sugar — which is always a good thing in my book!
Look for bars that are at least 60% cacao to avoid an unnecessary sugar rush, and because the flavor of dark chocolate is much stronger than milk chocolate, you can eat less and still feel satisfied.
6. Kale chips
Veggies are for snacking, too. Try some perfectly-seasoned kale chips for a great, healthy alternative to potato chips. If you’re brave, you can even try making them yourself. Healthy recipe blog Oh She Glows has some great tips on how to perfect them at home.
7. Hummus dippers
Here’s a quick and easy way to eat more veggies: make hummus dippers. Fill the bottom of a jar (mason jars work great, but any container with a lid will work) with hummus and then root some veggie sticks into the hummus and close the lid. Carrots and celery are two of my favorites, but get creative with bell peppers, pretzels, and whatever else sounds good.
Did any of your favorite healthy snacks make the list? Before you leave, make sure to check in with the comments — share your snack ideas with other readers who want a more balanced diet!
