Healthy Snack Ideas – Tips and Tricks for Healthy Snacking

It’s 10am. Two hours since you had breakfast, two hours before lunch. Your stomach growls and you realize, you’re not going to make it to lunch time. You need a snack. Now. But what?

Or how about this one. It’s 3:30pm and you are literally falling asleep at your desk. How are you going to make it another two hours before dinner? My favorite is when my kids are pulling on my legs telling me they’re hungry and I’m thinking, Me too! You know what sounds really good right now? Some chips…

 

Healthy Snack Ideas

Whether you are trying to lose weight, maintain a healthy weight, or just trying to feel better and have more energy during the day, here are some tips to help you say no to those chips.

My husband calls me the Chip Queen. My daughter identified the rustle of a chip bag before she was 18 months old. She’d hear the bag and come running with her hand in the air saying, “Chip? Chip?!”

So trust me, I know how it feels to say no to chips.

Here are some healthy snack ideas and tips to help you be better and feel better.

Have healthy alternatives READILY AVAILABLE. This takes a little bit of planning, but it’s worth it! Cut up fruits and vegetables and pre-package them in baggies that are easy to grab. (Apples, carrots, celery, cucumbers, zucchini, etc.) Portion out snacks into little bags so that you don’t over indulge on an otherwise healthy snack (hardboiled egg, raisins, Wheat Thins, etc.)

Eat a snack based on what you’re craving. Want something salty? Eat some nuts. Want something crunchy? Eat some carrots or celery. Sweet? Apples and cinnamon/peanut butter. Ice cream? Greek yogurt. Chips? Wheat crackers. Give your mouth the taste it wants, and give your body the energy it needs. Speaking of energy, I LOVE these energy bites. Instead of flax, I use chia seed and they’re still delicious. Mmm! I want them now.

Drink a lot of water. This will keep you hydrated and feeling good. Did you know dehydration causes headaches? Drink up, my friends!

Chew gum. It gives your mouth the chewing action and fills it with flavor. This doesn’t do anything to satiate hunger pains or give you energy, but it does plenty to keep that candy bar away.

Don’t buy junk food! Just don’t even buy it and you won’t have to listen to it calling your name.

These are just a few ideas, but I know there are so many more tips out there!

How do you maintain healthy snacking habits? What are YOUR favorite healthy snack ideas?