Healthy snack ideas to try between meals

However, many women I speak with have a misconception of what qualifies as a good and healthy snack. Unhealthy snacking is a problem for busy people who want to improve their health. Fast foods like fries, doubles, pies, and chicken wings are consumed locally as snacks, and they are just junk that gets stored as cellulite.

Basically, a healthy snack is a mini meal you have so you’ll be less likely to overeat at your next major meal, like between lunch and dinner. This means that a healthy snack should comprise of the three macro-nutrients, proteins, carbohydrates and fat. Therefore, for example a slice of whole grain bread by itself would not be a well-balanced snack, nor would a piece of meat or a table spoon of butter. However, if you put them together to make a sandwich, then you have a healthy snack! Realistically hitting all these markers with every snack is near impossible. So aim for overall balance. If one snack is short on protein, for instance, make sure your next one has a little extra.

Keep these general guidelines in mind when choosing a snack: 150 to 250 calories, about 3 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and no more than 12 grams of fat. Protein and fiber help you feel satisfied for much longer.

Check out these examples:

• Apple or pear wedges with peanut butter

• Low-fat mozzarella cheese stick (string cheese) with wholewheat crackers (look for whole wheat as the first ingredient listed)

• Whole-wheat wrap spread with hummus and topped with turkey lunch meat, lettuce and sunflower seeds or pine nuts

• Nuts (about the amount that fits in the palm of your hand) and a piece of fresh fruit

• Nuts and dried fruit, with a few semisweet chocolate morsels for that chocolate craving (easy to carry with you in a zip-top bag)

• Plain or vanilla nonfat or low-fat yogurt with berries and nuts

• Butter-free popcorn, with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese

• Baby carrot sticks with low-fat dressing for dipping

• Turkey roll-ups made with turkey slices spread with pesto and sprinkled with sunflower seeds and chopped lettuce and cherry tomatoes

• Celery sticks spread with peanut butter or with low-fat cream cheese and topped with nuts or raisins