Let’s just all agree that starving yourself is a quick one-way ticket to crazytown and never seems to result in a long-lasting weight loss, either. The other thing that most nutrition experts seem to agree on is that smart snacking is the key to keeping your blood sugar up throughout the day, which means that you’ll be less likely to nosh on junk food at the first opportunity.
But snacking on the same foods day after day can get boring, which might also lead you right back to those less healthy foods. Aim for a little variety and try some of these tried and tested healthy snacks:
Nuts
Whether you prefer almonds or pecans, nuts are an easy way to get some protein and healthy fats (also known as omega oils, those nutrients that people pay lots of money for in supplement form!).
Yogurt
This lunch-time favourite has the necessary protein to help you push through that 3pm slump, but tastes good enough to feel like a treat. Plus, it’s important to boost your calcium intake as much as you can.
Cottage Cheese
Not a big fan of yogurt? If you’re more of a savoury girl, low-fat cottage cheese is another tasty treat that will give you both the protein and calcium that you need.
Cherry Tomatoes
Those little red guys are full of antioxidants and fibre. They’re also a good antidote to apple fatigue when you’re trying to get your 8-10 a day.
Bananas
These hearty fruits will leave you feeling fuller, with only about 100 calories. They’ll also give you a good dose of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fibre.
Frozen Grapes
Stash some grapes in the freezer for an easy summer snack. They’re a good source of hard-to-get antioxidants like resveratrol, and they’re so low in calories, you can eat as many as you want (which is perfect if you’re prone to mindless snacking).
Granola Bars
These healthy diet staples have fallen out of favour slightly, because some have been pumped full of chocolate and fats. But nothing has them beat for throw-in-your-purse convenience, so just look for ones without too much sugar.
Air-popped Popcorn
Who’s to say that carbs are all bad? Sometimes, the body just wants what it wants. Air-popped popcorn is a great way to scratch that itch while avoiding the fat that’s in most other carbtastic snacks (ie. that bag of Doritos you’ve been eyeing).
