Healthy Snack Choices:

Healthy Snack Choices for the Whole Family

There are many quick and easy snacking options out there, but unfortunately, they don't have our best interest in mind. It may be easier to pull a bag of chips out of the cupboard than to slice and dice some fresh fruits or vegetables, but the potato chips are going to do nothing for your health. Many people do not realize how many healthy snack options are available because chips and crackers just seem so much easier. Next time you are at the supermarket, prepare to stock your kitchen with some of these healthy snack choices instead, and your body will surely thank you!

Pre-Cut and Pre-Washed Fruits and Vegetables
Many supermarkets offer vegetables and fruits which have already been washed and cut up, and which are typically suspended in water to keep them fresh. Not only are these fruits and vegetables a healthy snack option, they are also quick, easy and portable which makes them great for on-the-run snacking as well.

Many fresh fruits are portable on their own, so if you decide not to opt for the pre-cut and washed stuff, grab a couple of bananas, apples or oranges, which are quick and delicious snacks and are jam packed with health benefits.

Cups
Many healthy snacks come in portable little cups, which you can take anywhere, or stock up in your home refrigerator. Yogurt cups come in many different sizes, and you can opt for low or non fat options for an even healthier snack, without losing any of the sweet flavors. If you do not have enough time for a yogurt cup, consider a yogurt smoothie which is available in many different brands and flavors, and makes having some yogurt a deliciously drinkable experience.

Fruit is often available in pre-packaged cups as well, and though these typically have slightly higher sugar content than the fresh stuff, the portability of these little fruit cups more than makes up for it.

Cheese
Many companies now offer a variety of different cheeses for snacking, which typically means that they are pre-packaged to be smaller and more portable, or that the pieces are diced up for easy eating. Opt for low fat string cheese or slices for a quick but filling snack and a really nice calcium boost.

Fruit Drinks
There are a lot of fruit drink options out there, but not all are on equal footing when it comes to health benefits. Pass on the Gatorade.

For a boost in antioxidants, try POM Green Tea.

Typically fruit drinks like your average bottled juice brand are fairly loaded with sugar, so go for grapefruit juice and orange juice (fresh squeezed and not from concentrate) as well as grape juice and apple juice. "Power" drinks like Gatorade and PowerAde are still popular and easily portable, but their sugar content tends to dehydrate rather than hydrate, something that you will not experience with a more natural fruit and vegetable juice.