3 Tips to Making Healthy Snacks That You’ll Actually Eat
With the world focusing on healthy living, it seems as though there’s some new gimmick every day for staying healthy or losing weight. But in reality, keeping healthy is almost always a matter of watching what you eat and keeping active. While getting a half hour of exercise every day is achievable, and eating three healthy meals most days is a challenge but doable, most everyone is done in by snacking. After all, there’s nothing so great as the morning, afternoon, or evening snack. And sometimes that baggy of carrot sticks just doesn’t look appealing. But don’t fret, here are three easy tips to help you make snacks that aren’t just healthy, but also won’t be left in the fridge come snack time.
Infusions are Hot
Sometimes all that’s needed to give a snack that little push from boring to amazing is a dash of flavor. Sprinkle habanero concentrate on some almonds and let dry. You’ll get that amazing heat that pairs well with the almond crunch without worrying about extra salt or artificial flavors from commercial hot sauces. Do your strawberries need a little boost without adding sugar or artificial sweetener? A hit of passion fruit will have you scarfing down the entire batch. You can find all natural flavor concentrates that have zero added sugar and won’t ruin your healthy eating. Brands like Monin cater to people who want that flavor without the things they don’t want. Mix and match flavors to keep your snacks popping.
Go Natural
The best thing about the 21st century has to be the globalization of the farmer’s market. In the summer, your local farmer’s market is the place to be for the most amazing produce that you can turn into sweet fruit salads. And in the winter, when those local stalls are closed, your favorite supermarket is importing exotic foods from places that don’t know the touch of frost. Keep your snacking natural and avoid the preservative laden stuff. Whether it is a dragon fruit, papaya, those awesome tangerines or kumquats, nature provides you with a bevy of textures and flavors that will keep your fingers reaching into your snack bowl.
Change up the Texture
One thing that’s sure to keep your snacking from straying is a change in texture. Freeze dried fruits provide a crisp crunch that gives that visceral feedback we need sometimes. And if you don’t want a sweet crisp, you can turn kale into a crisp and salty snack that has nearly zero calories. And kale chips are still packed with nutrients and fiber. Ditch the commercial varieties that are often loaded with unnecessary fats and sodium and make your own. Use some of the habanero concentrate to make hot and spicy chips that will totally satisfy your crunch cravings and won’t add to your waistline.
Healthy snacking doesn’t have to be boring or mundane. With a little prep and some willingness to step outside of the traditional, you can find an entire world of flavors and textures that will keep you satisfied. Then the only thing you’ll have to worry about is keeping them for yourself and away from your family and coworkers.
