Are your snacks healthy and nutritious or loaded with sugars and artificial flavours? When there are so many options to choose from, we don’t always pick the best ones. Approach your snacks wisely and you’ll be amazed with the results!
Chips VS Popcorn
Advice so classic, we probably shouldn’t have even included it! But here goes. Everything about chips is dodgy: too many calories, too much sodium and fat, not enough fibre and definitely not enough protein. What about popcorn? When it’s natural and only lightly oiled, it’s an amazing source of dietary fibre and healthy polyphenols! The choice is obvious.
P.S. You might like this healthy salted caramel popcorn recipe 😉
American cheese VS Swiss cheese
We’ve all seen this bad boy – saturated yellow cheese, often peeking out from fast-food burgers and sandwiches. That’s American cheese. Ultra-processed and loaded with insane amounts of sodium. If you want to enjoy a long, healthy life, wave goodbye to it asap! Alpine Lace Swiss Cheese with its sexy holes, on the other hand, is one of the lowest-sodium cheeses out there. You’ll love it’s light, refreshing taste that goes well with a cracker, a slice of tomato and a few parsley leaves.
Bagel VS Sliced bread
All breads are loaded with unnecessary calories and white refined carbohydrates. But if you’re really craving a classic bagel and cream cheese combo, opt for a whole wheat option at least. Better yet – go for a toasted multigrain slice that has only around 70 calories or a corn tortilla (52 calories). Way better than a bagel’s 250 to 400!
Dried fruits VS Fresh fruits
While still being full of nutrients, due to the drying process many dried fruits are also loaded with sugar. And the bite-size that dried fruits come in often means we can easily eat twice as much without even noticing. Fresh fruits are a much better choice!
Fruit juice VS Infused water
We don’t need to remind you that fruit juice is basically a concentrated sugar syrup, do we? A glass of orange juice, for example, contains 24 grams of sugar – twice as much as one orange. Juices also lack the fibre that fruits have.
For when you need a sweet drink, pick infused water – water with fruit and berry slices in it. There are so many flavourful, colorful recipes for this healthy drink that you can come up with the new ideas every day and never get bored! Even detox cleanses often include infused water these days!
Crackers VS Cucumbers
We rarely eat bare crackers. They are way yummier when dipped in hummus or any other sauce. Swap crackers for cucumbers – just as crunchy but without extra sodium. Plus, cucumbers are 95% water, which your body will thank you for.
Flavoured yogurt VS Natural yogurt
Unfortunately, not every strawberry yogurt contains real strawberries. And even when it does, it might be coated in such a thick blanket of sugar, you’ll never find the actual berry. Mix fresh berries into a plain yogurt – just as delicious but way healthier! Greek yogurt is also rich in protein.
Milk chocolate VS Dark chocolate
Milk chocolate has twice as much sugar as dark chocolate. What’s more, we tend to chew dark chocolate slower, more thoroughly and as a result, get satisfied with less!
Candies VS Grapes
Candies are yum and we’re only humans, how can we resist! But have you ever tried frozen grapes? Yup, chuck some in a freezer and you’ll never go back to lollies, we promise.
Grapes VS Raspberries
Neither are evil but a cup of grapes only contains 1 gram of essential fibre (here is why it’s important to keep fibre levels high) while a cup of raspberries has an impressive 8 grams. This snack will keep you full and energised for longer!
Peanuts VS Edamame
Peanuts contain 200 calories per quarter cup. Trade them for half a cup of shelled edamame – not only are they more fun to eat but sprinkled with a pinch of chilli and toasted sesame seeds, they’re also incredibly delicious. Half a cup is only 100 calories and will also provide you with 5 extra grams of protein.