There are days when you get so busy you barely have time to get up and make your lunch.
Or maybe you had that lunch, but it wasn't enough, and you're hungry again. And dinner time is still so far away.
At the same time, you do want to control the amount of food you intake and not gain back the weight you put in so much hard work to lose.
At those times, it is important to have some snacks ready that will help sate those cravings as well as provide you with essential nutrients that will get you back on track.
Here are the top 10 snacks that can help you when you have snack cravings:
1) Nuts. Nuts are packed with vitamins and minerals that can provide you with the energy you need to get on with your day. They are easily available, and you can make your own bag of your favorite mixed nuts.
Just keep in mind that some store bought varieties can have excess sodium in them. Also, make sure not to overeat. As tempting as they are, try to minimize your servings.
2) Hydrate yourself. Most times when you are hungry, you're actually thirsty. Your body can be weird like that. You may be dehydrated, and your body will start craving foods, especially sweets.
Try drinking some water first. If that is boring, try squeezing some lemon in it.
In case you still don't feel like drinking water, try a cup of tea or coffee or fruit juice.
After your craving subside, do drink water.
Remember, water is the best beverage of then all.
3) Grapes are not only delicious but easy to carry with you anywhere because they don't spoil that quickly.
Of course, make sure they are in a box or they could get squished in your purse.
Grapes can satisfy your sweet cravings as well as help with hydration because of their water content.
4) Think snacks, and the first thing that pops into the mind is potato chips.
While they are addictive and delicious, they are also probably not the healthiest snack you will eat.
Potatoes on the other hand have a lot of nutrients in them and contrary to popular belief, not at all that fattening.
So you can either bake them or boil them for an easy snack. Potatoes will keep you full for a long time and give you energy.
5) Chocolate bars is yet another snack that most people turn to. They are easily available and the sugar in them gives you instant energy and makes you feel good.
But it just as quickly makes you crash after a while.
Most chocolates are loaded with sugar and other artificial things that do harm than good. They will hardly make you full and will make you reach for another bar.
Dark chocolate, however, has a different story to tell.
The darker the chocolate, the more nutrients it has. It is also rich in antioxidants and good for the heart .
It may take some time getting used to the darker varieties but eventually, you will come to appreciate the taste. Dark chocolate can provide you with energy and enhance your mood so you can carry on with your tasks.
6) Peanut Butter has a lot of nutrients, especially Protein that can help you build and repair muscles. Peanut Butter is an easy and nutritious snack. You can either spread some on crackers or simply have a spoonful.
Peanut Butter is often paired with jams, jellies, chocolate spreads, etc. But try having Peanut Butter with honey to increase the nutritional value of your snack.
Honey has added nutritional benefits as well as antioxidants.
7) Popcorn is a fun, crunchy snack that is easy to make and can be healthy if you choose to make it on stove rather than use the microwaveable varieties.
When you make snacks on your own, you can adjust the salt, oil, butter, etc as per your taste.
Try making your own flavors for popcorn. You can experiment with oregano, chilli, pepper, or any other dry herbs as toppings for your popcorn.
8) Yogurt is another snack that can fill you up while giving you some important nutrition, namely calcium and probiotics that help your digestive system.
Yogurt is available in small cups as well. Instead of choosing the sweetened yogurts, try having Yogurt as is or add in your own flavors. Try adding fresh fruits, or put a little bit of cucumber and mint for a cooling treat during the sunmers.
9) Eggs contain a lot of nutrition and the best part is that one egg can leave you feeling full and provide you with a lot of energy.
You can have a hard boiled egg as is or add some salt and pepper to it. Or have it with some hot sauce or mustard. Of course, try to limit the condiments when having your snacks.
10) Bananas are tasty as well as an important snack to have especially if you have been working out or working in the sun for too long.
Bananas are rich in potassium that will help keep cramps at bay.
Additionally, Bananas are easy to carry and a single Banana can provide you with a lot of energy as well as fill up your stomach.
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