When you walk into a bakery, do you feel the donuts calling out to you? The pastries begging you to dig a spoon onto them, the cookies craving for your attention! But you can’t. You’re on a diet, to lose all that extra weight you gained. And you just hate the fact that you can’t have any of your favourite snacks anymore. Here’s a way out for you – snacks with a twist. Healthy and tasty!
Fruits are a great and nutritious way of getting your stomach to stop grumbling. Chop up a few of your favourite fruits, and add in a few berries like raspberries, strawberries etc. If you don’t like plain old fruits, spice them up a bit, dip grapes in salt water before having them or sprinkle some spice over your apple. You can always add a bit of salt to your oranges too. Mix in some salt and pepper and smear them on guavas or a watermelon piece. You can do the same with vegetables too. Smear your cucumber slices with salt and pepper or have carrot sticks with some sesame seeds or hummus.
Learn a thing or two from the squirrels. Have nuts instead of your daily dose of chocolate chip cookies, walnuts, almonds, cashews etc. can do good. You can always make a trial mix, suitable to your needs. You can add a few kernels of popcorn too. Provided, it’s not popped in the microwave, but in a cooker over the stove, the old fashioned way!
If you really can’t make it through the day without having that muffin, remember anything homemade is much healthier than a purchased one. If your particular fondness for something sweet is unbearable, make it at home with a little healthy twist. Add in oats or nuts to your muffin. Use dark chocolate instead of milk. Skim/low-fat options are always good way to go in case of dairy products. Yoghurt can also double up as a healthy snack – you can have a fruit flavoured one, if the plain one doesn’t tingle your taste buds.
If you’re seeing meat everywhere, and the temptation just growing – have lean meats or some low-fat turkey jerky. These have a significantly lower calorie count than other meats. Have brown bread rather than white. Eggs are also a healthy option for breakfast. Have them hard-boiled, spread over a piece of toast or scrambled – they taste good no matter what.
Swap your caffeine and aerated drinks for a glass of juice. Make some freshly-squeezed orange juice or some banana milkshake, you can add in your own toppings too like, a few nuts and berries in case of milkshakes.
As mentioned, anything homemade is always better. You can whip up some cool, fun snacks which are easy to make like fruit popsicles, zucchini frittatas, tortillas, muesli bars etc. There are tons of recipes for healthier snacks available on the net, you are sure to find something you love.
So, the next time these hunger pangs get to you, right in the middle of the night or when you are busy, be prepared. Prepare a light healthy snack beforehand, to ensure you don’t pig out and spend too much on fatty snacks.
Author bio: The writer, Leo is a fitness and health instructor. Fitness is her motto, which also shows up in her articles related to health issues. Also, she writes on finance topics, other than health matters, mostly about ppi claims.
