Let’s admit it, we all love to snack (or at least I do). When those days get long, we get hungry. Sometimes it’s hard packing those healthier snacks so I’m here to give you 5 snacks that will make snacking healthier!
1. Chips
Regular potato chips are not only high in cholesterol but also cause weight gain and high blood pressure when consumed too often. There are a lot of healthy alternatives to the salty, greasy chips that we usually consume. One option is making your own chips at home! Baking almost any kind of fruit or vegetable can be turned into a healthy treat that still tastes amazing. For example, slicing up sweet potatoes and putting them in the oven until they turn crisp! Baked options are lower in calories and fat, making them a delicious snack that you don’t have to feel guilty about. Here’s one recipe for how to make sweet potato chips.
2. Ice Cream
It can be hard to replace the deliciousness of a decadent scoop (…or two) of ice cream. With the thousands of flavors and mix-ins that we have available, it’s not hard for this tasty treat to rack up the calories, sugar, and fat. Luckily, there are many different kinds of ice cream that can be used to replace the unhealthy versions of ice cream that we’ve known to grow and love. Halo Top is a new popular brand that is low in sugar and calories while still high in protein! So the next time you eat the whole pint in one sitting, you don’t have to feel as bad about it.
3. Sour Candy
I’m sure we can all admit to opening up a bag of sour candy and then, next thing you know, the whole thing is gone. Eating sour candy can overload us with sugar and can contain high fructose corn syrup, which, in large doses, can lead to things like heart disease and diabetes. Luckily, there is a healthier alternative to these sweets without losing the amazing taste — by coating frozen grapes! (Shown Above) Using Jello Jolly Rancher flavor packets and frozen grapes, you can make your own homemade sour candy that will taste the same as your favorite candy but without the guilt!
4. French Fries
French fries, the perfect side dish to any meal; but, we all know that any deep-fried foods are no good for our bodies. Fried foods are high in calories and trans fat. Instead of potatoes, we can replace them with carrots to make carrot fries! Cutting up carrots and baking them in the oven until they’re crispy gets rid of all the excess grease and salt that comes with regular deep-frying of potatoes fries. Not only are they delicious but they’re also super simple to make!
5. Popcorn
Whether it’s movie time or your enjoying concessions at the baseball games, popcorn is a staple in the American diet. Most of us can admit to adding extra butter on to our already-buttered movie theater popcorn (…guilty). But the buttery goodness comes with a price — a large popcorn can rack up to almost over 1,000 calories! A healthy alternative to this addictive snack is Skinny Pop! This popcorn not only comes in multiple flavors but is also low in calories and fat, making you feel less bloated after eating it!