So how goes the "food war" this week? I hope you're continually motivated to fight for a healthy diet and healthy body! =)
Today I want to share some ideas to help you when you feel a "snack attack" coming.
Sadly, almost all "snack food" is very unhealthy - full of sugar, preservatives, pesticides, etc. So what we can do when we have a craving for something sweet or just get the "munchies"?
1) Keep fruit and veggies on hand.
We try to always have apples and bananas at home. When they're available we also have plums, kiwi, tangerines, berries, etc. Organic fresh fruit can help fill cravings for sweets and is a wonderful, healthy snack.
Also, organic cucumbers, baby carrots, sugar snap peas, and other veggies make great snacks. Sometimes just having something to chew on is enough to stop a craving or the "munchies." =)
2) Stock healthy protein snacks.
If you have issues with your blood sugar, you probably need frequent protein snacks.
You can boil eggs and keep them in the fridge to grab when needed.
Or put cooked steak or chicken strips in the freezer for a quick snack.
If you can handle nuts, organic Almond butter is a tasty protein snack.
These options take a little more effort than a "protein bar" but generally speaking they are much healthier alternatives.
3) Keep healthy snacks in your freezer.
I mentioned last week that my mom makes a big batch of blueberry pancakes for me (with non-gluten flour and organic eggs) then puts them in the freezer. They make a great snack because they have a little protein and a little sweetness from the blueberries. My mom also makes homemade oat crackers which keep well in the freezer. At different times she's made me kamut crackers, coconut flour crackers, oatmeal scones, rye tortillas, and more. You can find many recipes for these kinds of flours online.
4) Look for snacks at your local health food store.
You can usually find things like rye crackers, oatmeal wafers, organic cereals, etc. Remember to always read labels, and watch out for unhealthy ingredients such as corn, soy, peanuts, sugars, etc. (Just because an item is sold in a health food store, doesn't make it "healthy.") I try to stick with homemade snacks, but these other products can be helpful as well.
5) Try organic dark chocolate.
If you really don't need a snack but still want something to chew on or to perk you up, try eating one SMALL square of healthy chocolate. I usually eat one small square two or three times a day. It gives me a little boost and makes me feel like I had a snack. =) For more info on the benefits of organic, dark chocolate, check out this blogpost.
Well, this wraps up our series on "Food Wars." I hope you found these tips helpful. Please share any thoughts or questions you have in the comments.
Keep fighting the good fight!
-Joanna
Hi Joanna,
ReplyDeleteI love salty snacks, so I keep these seaweed snacks handy! Weird, I know, but the ingredient list is seaweed, sesame oil, and salt. YUM. They kind of crunch like a potato chip but then become a little chewy.
I also keep a bag of baby carrots at work or an apple. Sometimes I bring peanut butter (no ingredients except PEANUTS and salt!) to dip the carrots in. It gives me that protein boost that I need, but I haven't had the peanut butter in a while.
I know dark chocolate is supposed to be good for you, but since it's a migraine trigger I avoid it. One of these days, after I've detoxed from all the other migraine triggers, I'd like to give it a try again. I'm almost afraid to open that door, though!
Thanks for your snack ideas! I've never tried a seaweed snack, sounds interesting. =)
ReplyDeleteI hope you can enjoy some healthy chocolate again one day, but I understand the dilemma, no food is worth a migraine. Don't worry though, I'm sure there is plenty of chocolate in heaven! =)