Snickity Snack Attack

Are you the type to skip solid meals and snack all day long? Do you take a little of this and a little of that, over and over every day?  Are you constantly looking for something to munch on? Most snacks are quick, easy, and are highly processed (think snack size bag of chips, granola bars, candy, pretzels, some trail mixes).  A common question I get asked is, “What do you recommend for a snack” by friends, family members, women who stop me in the grocery store, even the meat guy at Safeway!

A good snack should provide carbohydrates, protein, and maybe a little fat and should stay under 200 calories to really call it a “snack”. By following these guidelines (guidelines that I personally use but may not necessarily be followed by others), you can keep your diet on track and prevent hitting low blood sugar levels between meals. Again, these are the guidelines I like to follow to stay on track with my health and fitness goals. Find what works for you and if you need any guidance, please let me know.

Here is a list of some great snack ideas that are quick, easy, healthy (under 200 calories), and of course delicious!

• ½ cup fat-free (or low-fat) cottage cheese topped with ½ cup chopped cucumbers and grape tomatoes, cracked black pepper and 2 slices avocado.
• Baked apple: core a medium-sized apple, dust with cinnamon and stevia and bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. You can always top with chopped almonds, walnuts, or oats for a little crunch.
  
• Fresh vegetables and hummus: take slices of cucumbers, celery, carrots, red bell peppers and dip in 2 TBSP spicy hummus.
• Apple slices and cheese: Cut up a small apple and pair with a Laughing Cow mini Babybel light cheese wheel.
• Frozen grapes: Take 1 cup of purple or green grapes (or both) and place in a small glass bowl. Place in the freezer for 2+ hours before eating.
• Pumpkin yogurt: mix ½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt with ¼ cup pumpkin puree. Stir in cinnamon, stevia and a drop of vanilla. Also delicious if you put in the freezer for 20-30 minutes!

• Peanut Butter Bananas: Slice up a banana and place a little peanut butter between two slices. Repeat and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Sweet Potato Fries: Take on small sweet potato, rinse well and slice in to fry-like strips. Spray with non-stick cooking spray (I use the olive oil type) and sprinkle with a dash of salt and red pepper flakes. Bake at 420 for 10 minutes.
  
• Kale Chips: Rinse 1 cup raw kale and remove stems. Spray with non-stick cooking spray (I use the olive oil type) and sprinkle with a dash of salt. Bake at 400 degrees until crisp.
• Spicy Black Beans: mix ¼ cup rinsed black beans with 1-2 TBSP fresh salsa and non-fat Greek yogurt.
• Blueberry Vanilla Protein: mix one scoop vanilla iso-whey protein, ¼ old fashioned oats, and ¼ frozen blueberries with ice (or almond milk). 

Keep sending your questions and thoughts, I love reading them!

Take care of you,

J