Much has been said about sandwiches. Nutrition experts attest to the benefits of eating during snack time, which has become an integral part of the daily eating pattern. Most people are familiar with snacking between meals, while others prefer to snack at midnight. The problem with snacking, however, is that it has become a mindless, emotional habit for many. Satisfying foods are often part of the snack menu, not just to relieve hunger, but simply to have something to eat while taking a break from activities like work or play.
It goes without saying that health consciousness encompasses everything about eating, including the kind of snack you usually enjoy with family and friends. Ponder a few important points to bring tasty and healthy snack ideas to life.
Think about the nutritional value.
If you’ve been used to serving up crunchy, salty, or sugary snacks, it’s about time to find out how your body—not just your taste buds—can benefit from these types of foods. Do they contain any nutritional value? Everyone, especially kids, will need to be mindful of getting the right amount of nutrition in this age of tasty, nutrient-free snacks, entrees, desserts, and sodas.
Consider healthier substitutes.
People pay less attention to how snacks can affect the overall diet and usually opt for the typical bread, cookies, pasta, cakes, pizza, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, chocolates, popcorn cutlets, crackers , noodles or biscuits. Most serve these calorie-packed snacks because they taste good and require less prep time. Aren’t fruits, nuts, salads, yogurts, real juices, low sodium and sugar free recipes just as tasty and easy to prepare?
Creativity counts!
Most people frown at the thought of having some boring fruit, vegetables, wheat-based foods, or oatmeal for snacks. The quick fix? Put variety, experiment with pretty or fun plating, and recreate a recipe to make it your own. Give these items your personal touch and explore different ways to liven up your snack.
Keep in mind: Portions are important in healthy snacks.
You might not think about it much, but by the time you buy that bag of fry chips for a snack, you tend to go for the XL-size packs because they’re cheaper and offer good value for money. As you weigh how practical the savings from these deals are, it may also make sense to think about serving smart. Remember that the portion sizes of your snack portion play an important role in keeping your healthy diet in check.
