What does your snack routine look like? We want to liven it up with some options that will satisfy your cravings and result in a healthier body. From potato chips to pizza, most of our fav comfort foods aren’t necessarily the best for you. Here are some suggestions on snacks to switch out or fix up our unhealthy favourites!
Crunchy Cravings! Potato Chips
We all love the satisfying salty crunch of a potato chip… or a couple, but next thing you know the bag will be gone and you’ll be left feeling unsatisfied and reaching for the next snack. Some crunchy and healthy alternatives with less sodium are:
Kale Chips: Kale chips can be bought in health food stores or made in the oven yourself. Use spices and a bit of sea salt to bring out those flavors you crave, you can even add parmesan!
Snap Peas: These are the greenest version of a crunchy snack. Though Snap peas don’t taste anything like potato chips, they are great because they give you the crunch you crave without the calories and sodium. Green is good, and sometimes tricking your body into thinking it is eating potato chips is no crime!
I Want Candy! Sweet Treats & Candies
When your sweet tooth kicks in and you crave sugar, try to go for snacks with natural sugars. Natural sugars cause less shock to your system and can be digested by your body better than processed ones.
Frozen Grapes: Don’t judge, these are a great alternative to processed candies. Frozen grapes are a snack that is so easy, all you have to do is put grapes in the freezer and then pop them in your mouth. They taste like little-frozen fruit candies, and you don’t eat too many because well, no one wants a brain freeze. Keep them in the freezer at work or home and snack on them when you can!
(Ps. they are also a great addition to cocktails instead of ice cubes, just saying)
Fruit Popsicles & Frozen Watermelon: Fruit popsicles are a perfect way to beat the heat in the summer but they also beat those nasty candy cravings with natural sugars that come from fruits. There are tons of fruit popsicle recipes out there for anyone no matter your taste. If you are feeling a little lazy, just freeze pieces of watermelon on popsicle sticks, simple and easy!
Carb Overload – Muffins, Loaves & Bagels
Overloading on carbs is nothing new to me, especially in the winter. Muffins and bagels are a way of life when I am on the go and tend to make up the majority of my breakfasts. I could never say no to a slice of cake and extra frosting, please! But with carbs and sugars come crashes, here are some alternative low carb options to cut out your cravings for these items.
Healthy Muffin Alternatives: First of all, there are tons of healthy muffin alternatives with avocado, zucchini and so on, that are much better than pure carbs. If you aren’t looking for a massive change in your diet, there’s nothing wrong with a healthy muffin… at least it is better than a cupcake right?
Breakfast and Granola bars: Oats and protein, what a good way to start the day. Eating a granola bar instead of a muffin or bagel will leave you feeling much more energize and not to mention full. Granola bars are a great way to throw together a bunch of proteins and fruits to kickstart your day!
Instant Oats or Overnight Oats: I love oatmeal because it gives you the opportunity to jazz it up the way YOU want. Whether it is with apples and cinnamon or blueberries and yogurt, you can’t go wrong. Still better for you than a bagel!
Nectar Of The Gods – Chocolate
Oh, sweet, sweet chocolate. We love you so much, but our relationship is getting a little co-dependent and unhealthy. Here are some snacks to cut your chocolate cravings without COMPLETELY cutting the chocolate out. Let’s get real, nothing can substitute real chocolate. 😉
Lara Chocolate Date Macaroons: These Lara Bar creations are amazing. You get a hint of cocoa, and a nice smooth consistency that makes you feel like you are eating a chocolate treat. When in reality you are eating dates with a hint of cocoa and other flavours. Check them out in your health food aisles in most grocery stores!
Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles: There are tons of recipes which work with avocados and chocolate all over the internet and for good reason. The mild flavours and creamy texture of an avocado makes a perfect substitute for chocolate, just add some cocoa and you feel like you are eating a chocolately treat. In this case, dark chocolate avocados are a healthier option than real chocolate truffles.
Yogurt or Chocolate Bark: Yogurt or Chocolate, whatever you choose, bark is a great way to snack and can be super easy and fun to make. In most cases, you just freeze it and you can add whatever you would like. You can add nuts, fruit, seeds, and coconut to your liking and no cooking is necessary, just freeze it for a couple hours and it is good to go!
Gimme a Slice…. or 3 – Pizza
One slice of pizza can contain up to 22% of your daily saturated fat, and let’s be honest who ever only has ONE slice? To counteract these cravings, try these alternatives:
Flatbread: Instead of ordering pizza at a restaurant or for delivery, think about other options. If the restaurant offers flatbreads, consider ordering one of those or make your own flatbreads to your liking instead of ordering delivery!
Healthy Nachos: Consider making some healthy nachos when you crave a pizza or next time you have guests over. There are tons of amazing recipes that include ingredients such as Hummus, Avocado & Chicken that won’t leave you feeling too full to function so you can enjoy having guests over and you don’t put them into a classic food coma.
