Feeling a bit hungry this afternoon? Step away from the sugary candy and salty chips! In order to make it through the dreaded 3 PM crash, try reaching for healthy, energy-boosting snack options instead. By switching up your snacking habits, you really can change your overall health. Snacking on junk food can lead to sugar overloads and nasty bloating. Spice up your afternoon by getting helpful energy from healthy snacks. Here are a few tasty snack options that are great for getting your through the day.
1. Trail Mix
Nuts, chocolate, and seeds, oh my! Get both a salty and sweet fix out of this afternoon snack. Trail mix may not be the best when it comes to calories, however, it does pack a powerful protein punch.
2. Quinoa
This gluten-free super grain is packed full of valuable vitamins and minerals necessary for a proper, balanced diet. Pair this with nuts and vegetables to create a healthy, well-rounded meal.
3. Almonds
Needing a bit of crunch in your afternoon snack? Turn to almonds. A handful of these nuts can help reduce your likelihood of heart disease.
4. Edamame
Edamame, also known as soybeans, are great for those looking for a fresh, salty treat. One cup of these beans has up to six percent of your daily nutrients (with the exception of vitamin D).
5. Granola Bars
Instead of buying sugar-filled granola bars from the grocery store, think about making your own granola bars at home. Fill your nutritious bars full of oats, dried fruits, nuts, honey, and whatever else you like to keep your bars as healthy as possible.
6. Chia Seed Greek Yogurt
When paired with greek yogurt, these chia seeds can be a powerful snack. Chia seeds are packed full of fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids. Think of them as an energy booster to your traditional greek yogurt.
7. Bananas
Filled with potassium and magnesium, bananas are a healthy, portable option when it comes to snacking on-the-go.
8. Dried Fruit
In essence, dried fruit is essentially fresh fruit but removed of all of it’s water. This means that it’s nutrients are more densely packed. However, this applies to the sugar content as well. So when it comes to snacking on this nutritious treat, make sure to do it in small doses.
9. Sunflower Seeds
Looking to add a bit more vitamin E to your diet? Turn to sunflower seeds. These seeds contain plenty of vitamins and minerals to get your body feeling it’s best.
10. Kale Chips
Craving salty chips, but don’t want to absorb all of those calories? Try eating kale chips instead. While these chips have a low amount of calories, they do contain lots of potassium and vitamin A.
Photo by SweetOnVeg