6 Tips for Choosing Healthy Snacks

It’s 4 in the afternoon, and your tummy is rumbling. Dinner seems so far away, and you don’t want to spend the next few hours in agony. It’s tempting to order fast food or mindlessly search the fridge for knick-knacks. You give in and try not to think of the calorie content of your snack. How many times will you let this happen?

“Snacking is one of the activities that need advanced planning. You can’t predict when exactly you’ll feel hungry again. Your survival instinct will always push you to grab the nearest delicious food. So, it’s better always to prepare healthy snack options.”, advises Luke Wood, a food planning expert at Monkeyfoodz. 

Here’s how to choose the snacks that should be included in your plans: 

1. Fill on grains

Whole-grain foods have always been on the frontage of healthy snacking. Their popularity is only reasonable because whole-grain snacks can provide energy, modulate appetite, and improve digestion. Try a cup of high-fibre cereal, a grain bar, or low-salt tortilla chips.

If you’re on the Keto diet, the nitrate-free bacon sticks are delicious sources of protein. 

 2. Be cautious of fancy labels.

Many food manufacturers find ways to twist words and make them sound healthier. For example, a product that’s labelled as “multigrain” might sound healthy. But it also means more types of grain were added to it, such as refined grains. Learn to decode food labels here. 

3. Choose snacks from different groups.

Maximise snack time by making sure that your food constitutes different groups. Usually, the base is an item that contains a good amount of carbohydrates or protein so that you feel satisfied and energised. What do you think of dipping veggies or lean meat into a gluten-free, vine-ripened tomato sauce? 

4. Watch the portion size.

Remember, your snack’s purpose is to hold off hunger and not to replace a meal. Enjoy your snacks in moderation and reap the benefits later.

It’s not required to measure the food but simply be informed of the portion sizes. Calculate how much you need in between meals and stay within that range. If you’re preparing snacks in bulk, keep appropriate portions in separate containers to ensure control. 

 5. Focus on the nutrients, not the calories.

Rather than fixating on calorie content, try to appreciate the nutrient density of a snack. Although your consumption should be limited, you’d want to get the best out of every food you eat, right?

Typically, you’ll want to avoid additives. So, here’s a guide to additives. 

6. Be mindful during snack time.

Avoid snacking while using the computer or watching TV. These activities tend to cloud your mind from detecting the “fullness cues”. Find a serene spot where you can eat and enjoy. It’s essential to listen to your mind and body to ensure that you’re not eating out of stress or boredom. 

Circle B is a family-owned and operated provider of natural, clean, and sustainable food products. We raise our hogs the old-fashioned way and our sauces don’t contain artificial preservatives, high-fructose syrup, and caramel coloring.