Let me start by saying, “I get it.” I really do. You’re busy. You work hard Every. Single. Day. If you’re a parent, you likely don’t have even five minutes to yourself on a regular basis. You’re one indulgence is snacking. You might grab a Snickers when you’re at the grocery store checkout. Maybe you drink Gatorade because you heard it has electrolytes and you feel like you need it after you work out. A little bowl of chips here or a doughnut there isn’t a big deal, right? Perhaps not but you’d be far better off with healthy snack ideas.
I mean, if there is an alternate, healthier choice for a particular snack, why not try it? For instance, my kids are competitive runners but Gatorade makes several of them feel ill. Instead, they drink “propel” water, which also has electrolytes but not a lot of chemicals and processed sugar.
Try these health snack ideas
This is really one of those don’t-knock-it-til-you-try-it posts. Even if you don’t like all the suggestions, even one might help improve your health. While I’m listing direct swaps, such as this food instead of that — you could use any of the suggestions at any time, not just to replace a specific food.
I love candy. It’s terrible for me and I know that. I’ve trained myself to eat a small square of dark chocolate when I’m craving candy. Yes, chocolate is candy but there health benefits to eating dark chocolate, so it’s a good alternative. Dried fruit and nuts are also a great choice when you want to nibble something chewy, crunchy or sweet.
Pizza can be a health snack idea
Eating out all the time gets expensive and the pizza you get at a local shop isn’t likely to be as healthy as homemade. A great healthy snack idea is to swap store-bought pizza with pizza you make yourself. You can use wheat flour if you want and can choose fresh veggies to go on top. It’s always best to use real cheese, however, rather than the chemically laden stuff you get already shredded at the store.
There’s a reason that ‘cheese’ (and I’m using the term lightly here) doesn’t stick together. It is not actually bonafide cheese! If you buy a block of real cheese, it clumps, it sticks because it’s supposed to!
Hummus is a great swap for chips
No post on healthy snack ideas would be complete without mentioning hummus. The stuff is so good for you! You can use chic peas or black beans and tweak your recipe to your own preference. To dip, you can use fresh veggies or some healthy crackers, which cost a bit more but it’s worth it. It’s a far better alternative than greasy potato chips.
Also, in addition to candy, I love ice cream. It doesn’t matter what time of year it happens to be. I love it. The next time you want healthy snack ideas that replace ice cream, try the breakfast banana split. The good thing is it’s not only for breakfast. You basically slit the banana as you would for a traditional ice cream banana split. Instead of filling it with ice cream, you fill it with yogurt. Then, top it with berries, walnuts, honey and any other healthy food item.
You can use a dehydrator to create healthy snack ideas
A few years ago, my husband gifted me with a dehydrator. I use it often. You can make super healthy snacks with a dehydrator, such as crunchy kale chips, apple chips, banana chips or tomato chips. You can also make crunchy green bean snacks.
Do you have venison on hand? It makes great jerky! This is a great item to have with you if a snack attack hits. If you don’t own a dehydrator, I’ve been told you can make the same snacks in the oven on a very low temperature.
Combine two or more for an amazing snack
I already mentioned that dark chocolate is food for you. So are raspberries. So, why not combine the two for a healthy treat? Drizzle some melted dark chocolate over a handful of raspberries and you will give your taste buds a thrill!
Healthy snack ideas do not have to mean that you never eat anything sweet, salty, crunchy or yummy. It does mean that you make conscientious decisions about what you put inside your body. You care about your health. You want to live to a ripe old age. Diet is closely connected to health. The next time you want a snack, make a smart choice!
