{"id":250,"date":"2017-05-26T10:35:13","date_gmt":"2017-05-26T10:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=250"},"modified":"2021-03-10T16:51:02","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T16:51:02","slug":"21-health-snacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/21-health-snacks\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Health Snacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"If you\u2019re looking to improve your health, then you need to start by improving your diet. Now the temptation is to stop eating as far as possible and to semi-starve yourself. Guess what though? This is neither healthy nor a good way to lose weight. Why? Firstly, because it is nearly impossible to maintain. If you starve yourself or punish yourself, then you won\u2019t be able to stick at the diet indefinitely. Sure, you might do okay for the first few weeks \u2013 maybe even the first few months \u2013 but a diet isn\u2019t something transient. A diet is something you need to be able to stick with forever. Otherwise, the effects simply get reversed as soon as you change back to your old eating habits. And what\u2019s the point in that?<\/p>\n

It is far better to have a much more modest diet in mind and to actually stick with it, rather than being overly ambitious and na\u00efve and giving up on your diet right away as a result!<\/p>\n

But the other problem with the \u2018eat less\u2019 approach to dieting is that it will often mean that you aren\u2019t getting enough nutrients in your diet. The body needs food for a reason. Food is not just \u2018fuel\u2019 \u2013 it is not just \u2018energy\u2019. Rather, food is what your body uses to build muscle and bone. To help your brain function. To create enzymes and neurotransmitters.<\/p>\n

And when you cut these essential nutrients from your diet, you don\u2019t only get pangs of hunger and \u2018cravings\u2019 that make it very hard to diet\u2026 you also quickly start to see your looks and energy levels go down hill. Your metabolism will even slow down, causing more fat to be stored!
\nSo the solution is not to stop eating and snacking. The solution is to replace your regular snacks with healthy ones. Here are 21 amazingly healthy, easy and delicious health snacks that you can start enjoying today!<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Poached Eggs on English Muffins With Salmon<\/h3>\n

Eggs are one of the ultimate health snacks. You can eat them in a wide variety of different forms (you\u2019ll be encountering them again on this list!) and you will get a ton of health benefits from them, ranging from a huge influx of protein (amino acids) to the essential brain-nutrient choline<\/a>. Then there\u2019s salmon, which is also fantastic for the brain thanks to its omega 3 fatty acid content, and is also great for reducing inflammation as well as easing the joints.<\/p>\n

Poached eggs on English muffins with salmon form the basis of eggs benedict. Drop your eggs into some boiling water for a few minutes having first added a little apple cider vinegar. Then drop them onto the muffins with a layer of salmon underneath. Don\u2019t forget to dry them off first though!<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Celery Dipped in Hummus<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a smaller snack that you can keep around the house and just dip into as you need it, then celery is a great choice. Not only is celery incredibly low in calories thanks to being mainly made up of water, but it is also a great source of a variety of nutrients. The hydration element itself also makes celery a great choice.<\/p>\n

Remember: the body is largely made up of water and this is crucial for a huge range of important functions throughout the body.<\/p>\n

Celery is also high in fiber. The hummus is mainly to add flavor, though there are benefits to the chick peas and garlic<\/a> there too!<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Baked Potato + Tuna<\/h3>\n

Baked potatoes are actually surprisingly good for you and contain a surprisingly large amount of iron, vitamin B12 and even vitamin C!<\/p>\n

Not only that, but baked potatoes also contain tons of fiber thanks to their thick, crunchy (delicious) skin. Oh and they\u2019re low in calories<\/a> \u2013 a whole potato will only add 110 calories to your day, which is negligible.<\/p>\n

Add tuna on top and now you have a great source of protein, along with omega 3 fatty acid for better brain function and reduced inflammation.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Avocado<\/h3>\n

Avocados are a fantastic superfood and they offer a ton of different health benefits. Not only is this a great source of saturated fats, it\u2019s also a great source of protein, of omega 3 fatty acid (again!), of magnesium and more.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also get lutein<\/a>, which is great for your energy levels as well as for your brain function. Avocado in itself makes a great snack but it can also be enjoyed on toast with a little lemon and pepper.<\/p>\n

\"\"5. \u00a0Chicken + Cayenne Pepper<\/h3>\n

Chicken can be enjoyed as a snack if you think ahead and try cooking a few breasts in the oven at the start of the week and then seal them away in a Tupperware to enjoy throughout the week.<\/p>\n

Plain chicken is a great source of lean protein, meaning it can help to build muscle and improve strength without unintentionally adding calories and fattening you up!<\/p>\n

The only downside is that chicken<\/a> just on its own can be a little bland, so try adding some cayenne pepper and you\u2019ll also speed up your metabolism in order to burn through calories faster!<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Sunflower Seeds<\/h3>\n

Sunflower seeds are a great source of protein, of fiber and of magnesium and zinc. That means that they can improve your digestion, bowel movements, testosterone, smell and even your prostate<\/a> health.<\/p>\n

The great thing about sunflower seeds is that they are so small and can be eaten just as they are. You can snack on them throughout the day then and as long as you don\u2019t go too crazy with them, you shouldn\u2019t find that they add too many calories.<\/p>\n

Oh and they taste great when sprinkled on top of some cereal!<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Carrots Dipped in Hummus<\/h3>\n

We discussed celery dipped in hummus, now how about carrots? Carrots<\/a> are a great source of fiber as well as vitamin A. And yes, this really does help with your eyesight and it can prevent the on-set of macular degeneration as you get older.<\/p>\n

Carrots are given their color by a substance called lutein, which is also great for energy levels and weight loss. One recent study showed that rats given lutein would run further (at will!) and spontaneously burn many more calories as a result.<\/p>\n

On top of this, lutein also seems to improve brain function. This is particularly true for young children who reach developmental milestones faster when snacking on it!<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Dark Chocolate + Coffee<\/h3>\n

The great thing about all the snacks on this list is that they taste great and don\u2019t feel like \u2018health foods\u2019. But while this is true, you\u2019re still going to miss some of your old snacks like chocolate. Well fear not! You can actually get away with having chocolate on the menu still, especially if you choose to eat dark chocolate.<\/p>\n

Dark chocolate is high in magnesium and lots of other important nutrients but its true power comes from the epicatechin, which boosts muscle mass, widens the blood vessels to reduce blood pressure and even enhances cognitive function. It\u2019s also generally lower in sugar and calories too, making it a perfect healthy snack! Enjoy your dark chocolate with some coffee<\/a> and the bitterness is perfectly off-set.<\/p>\n

As it happens, caffeine is actually good for you in a number of ways too \u2013 protecting against alzheimer\u2019s, speeding up the metabolism and acting as a potent antioxidant.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Apple<\/h3>\n

A pretty simple health snack is just to grab a piece of fruit. Not exactly imaginative, but very effective nonetheless.<\/p>\n

Apples<\/a> are very tasty and very convenient to eat and best of all, they\u2019re also high in epicatechin meaning you get the same muscle building and brain boosting benefits that you do from dark chocolate.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, apples provide tons of fiber and large amounts of vitamin C. That latter point is important, because the vitamin C will help you to strengthen your immune system as well as to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and thereby increase testosterone. They\u2019re ideal for recovery after a big workout.<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Mashed Banana<\/h3>\n

If you want something that tastes like a desert but isn\u2019t, then take a banana and mash it into some milk with a fork.<\/p>\n

This creates a tasty, creamy dessert you can eat with a spoon like a cereal. If you want to make it a little healthier still, then try adding a little honey on top.<\/p>\n

Honey<\/a> actually has a ton of benefits itself and is a great natural alternative to sugar. As well as all this, the milk is going to offer a good source of calcium and protein!<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Omelette<\/h3>\n

Another great health snack you can make with egg<\/a> is an omelette. This is a perfect cure for hunger that you can enjoy when you fancy something savory.<\/p>\n

Not only does it satisfy that urge for protein and provide you with all the health benefits of eggs, but it also allows you to add all kinds of other things to the mix.<\/p>\n

A little cheese won\u2019t hurt and you can also add ham, onion and more to come up with lots of different snacks. Just mix up some egg with small bits of whatever else you fancy and then fry in a pan but without stirring as you would do to scramble.<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Protein Shake<\/h3>\n

Protein shake has something of a bad rap, which I\u2019ll never quite understand. This is a serious shame, seeing as protein shakes are actually very good for you, even if you\u2019re not trying to build muscle!<\/p>\n

The best kind is whey protein. Whey is a milk extract which is produced as a by-product during the cheese-making process.<\/p>\n

This is very high in protein<\/a> and offers the full range of amino acids, all in a highly bioavailable form. Not only that, but it\u2019s also very low in calories and actually provides a great source of lots of important nutrients besides.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Salad Wraps<\/h3>\n

Sandwiches are amazing snacks and if you are a little creative, you can do some incredible things with them. But while this is true, bread isn\u2019t really the healthiest thing owing to its rapid release of sugar.<\/p>\n

So what can you do? One option is to use mushrooms instead of slices of bread in order to keep your filling together in a convenient manner. My preferred healthy snack though is to use a few salad leaves instead.<\/p>\n

Take some chicken for example, along with some bits of cucumber<\/a> and maybe some avocado and then wrap this in some lettuce leaves. You\u2019ll have a delicious, nutritious and satisfying lunch snack that requires no bread at all. It works with any filling too!<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Homemade \u2018Chutney\u2019<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not really chutney as such\u2026 but chop up some apple, some red onion, some carrot and some red pepper and then add to a frying pan. Pour on about an inch of water and then cook until the fruit and veg is soft.<\/p>\n

Now add in just a little honey to create a more goopy consistency and some chopped tomatoes from a tin (around 30g will do). Now add in a little cayenne pepper and lemon. Raisins<\/a> and anything else you like can be thrown in too!<\/p>\n

Once this is finished, you\u2019ll have a really tasty mixture that is packed with nutrients. You can eat this with chicken or you can enjoy it on its own. It\u2019s seriously versatile and very good for you!<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Cereal<\/h3>\n

Cereal is actually surprisingly healthy in a number of instances. If you\u2019re craving something sweet and want to stay away from the cake, then try having a cereal that is fortified with extra nutrients and that doesn\u2019t contain too much sugar.<\/p>\n

You can even make your own. Try taking a little musli and then add on some grapes (cut in half), some sunflower<\/a> seeds and some chopped banana.<\/p>\n

The result in something that has lots of textures and flavors but all comes together beautifully. And it\u2019s packed with a TON of goodness from iron, to vitamin C, to protein, to magnesium.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0Dried Fruits<\/h3>\n

Fruits are super good for you as we\u2019ve already seen but they don\u2019t massively feel like snacks or treats.<\/p>\n

To get around this problem, try eating dried fruits.These keep for much longer and can be eaten at your leisure just like sweets or chips.<\/p>\n

They actually have a lot of nutritional benefit often not found in the original fruit and especially when you\u2019re eating the skin as well \u2013 offering tons of fiber<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"\"17. \u00a0Kefir<\/h3>\n

Kefir is a popular drink\/snack among a lot of healthy hipsters right now. It has a somewhat sour taste which only seems to increase its allure but the great thing is that it can serve as the basis for a lot of different concoctions \u2013 ideal for making your own bircher cup for example.<\/p>\n

Drop in a little musli and some fruit and you\u2019ll get the benefits from those ingredients as well as a the healthy bacteria cultures that come from the kefir<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"18. \u00a0Juice Lollies<\/h3>\n

Another way to enjoy fruits in a manner that is a little more snack-friendly, is just to pour some juice into a freezer-friendly container and then freeze.<\/p>\n

The result is an ice lolly that is just as healthy as the original juice but now a lot more fun and delicious to eat.<\/p>\n

This is great for enjoying at summer and actually it\u2019s a very smart way to trick your kids into getting lots of nutrients<\/a>. They can have as many ice lollies as they want!<\/p>\n

\"\"19. \u00a0Yogurt With Blueberries<\/h3>\n

Yogurt is full of healthy bacteria cultures, just like the kefir and this means it can help to improve nutrient absorption, digestion and even your mood.<\/p>\n

Now add in some blueberries and you\u2019ll have added fiber and a huge dose of vitamin C<\/a> to help strengthen the immune system, fight off colds and bad moods and protect against free radicals.<\/p>\n

\"\"20. \u00a0Vegetable Chips<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve seen a lot of sweet snacks on those last few entries, so what about making something a little more savory?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re missing your chips and want something to snack on while you watch a movie, then try slicing off some thin bits of vegetables and then dropping them into the oven with a little healthy oil of your choice.<\/p>\n

The result is something just like chips that contains lots of minerals<\/a> and not half as much fat!<\/p>\n

\"\"21. \u00a0Vegetable Smoothie<\/h3>\n

Finally, the ultimate healthy snack is a smoothie! This is a great way to get a ton of nutrients all in one convenient place but the only downside is that smoothies also tend to contain a lot of sugar.<\/p>\n

In fact, some smoothie diets can be very bad for your teeth for this reason! A quick solution is to swap the fruit<\/a> in your smoothie for vegetables instead.<\/p>\n

As a result, you\u2019ll avoid getting quite so much sugar and you can enjoy in greater quantities.<\/p>\n\r\n

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