Get Healthy and Satisfied with Snacks That Rock

February 4, 2008     Posted in Body

23051194.jpgTo me, afternoons are like a barren wasteland. They last for hours that can feel like days, and there’s no relief in sight until dinner. To silence the grumbling stomach, it’s important to have a snack sometime in the middle of those wasteland hours.

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While it might seem appealing to grab a triple-shot mocha at Starbucks, that’s really not the best thing for our minds or our bodies to have (or, in many cases, our wallets). If you want a snack that scores high on both nutrition and taste, consider one of the following:

Pita with Hummus. You can buy your hummus at the store (roasted red pepper is my favorite kind), or make your own for cheap using a scaled-down version of a recipe like this one. Cut a slit in the side of your pita, shovel in a few spoonfuls of hummus, and you’re good to go.

Yogurt with Topping. It’s really easy to take a container of yogurt with you wherever you need to go, and yogurt has the added advantage of meshing well with almost any topping choice. Try tossing a few chocolate chips on top of caramel yogurt, fresh blueberries atop a carton of strawberry, or a spoonful of toasted nuts and honey on top of plain vanilla.

Trail Mix. Not just for campers, trail mix is a busy girl’s dream come true because it takes only seconds to put together and it’s easy to make a little or a lot. In a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container, try throwing together some combination of the following: nuts, craisins, chocolate chips, dried fruit, granola, oats, dry cereal, cinnamon, sunflower seeds, and pretzel pieces. Then toss it in your purse and gnaw on it throughout the afternoon. It sure makes those wasteland hours go by faster!

Got any other quick, healthy snacks the rest of the world needs to hear about?! Be our chef for the moment and let us know!

2 Comments on "Get Healthy and Satisfied with Snacks That Rock"
  1. Alysse says:
    Mon, 4th Feb 20082:16 pm 

    I recently found 3 great snacks that don't make my belly go pop:

    Vegetable soup. Progresso makes a variety that's only 60 calories per serving! And it's soo filling.

    Fat free popcorn. Crunchy, salty, and only 110 calories per bag. That's right, the entire bag.

    Oatmeal. Plain oatmeal with a serving of chocolate chips tastes like dessert and is just about 160 calories.

    The best part is all of these are dorm room friendly.

  2. rachel says:
    Mon, 4th Feb 20084:34 pm 

    Low-cal cereals (like Special K w/ strawberries, or some varieties of Honey Bunches of Oats) make for a great snack, generally under 100 or 120 calories.

    Fruit is also great. Apples can be pretty filling and are also nice to the waistline. However, avoid certain dried fruit products, as they are often loaded with added sugar.

    Also, I keep seeing these Qiznos comercials for a flatbread something: $2 and only 200 calories. Haven't tried 'em yey but they sound like a deal!

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