The best foods to snack on combine protein, fat and complex carbohydrates, a trifecta that satisfies your hunger without sending your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride. Snacks based on simple carbs (think chips, pretzels, sweets) cause your blood sugar to quickly spike and then plunge soon after, leaving you hungry again, and headed back to that bag of chips. But good snacks can be hard to find, so to stay away from the bad ones, memorize this list of healthy snack ideas:
- A low-carb "wrap": A leaf of lettuce filled with veggies and a little grated cheese or sliced nuts
- A turkey roll-up: A slice of turkey wrapped around avocado and veggies
- Carrot and celery sticks dipped in nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew . . ) or hummus
- Mixed olives
- A cup of plain yogurt mixed with fruit, chopped nuts, coconut, cinnamon
- An ounce of roasted nuts (cashews, pecans and walnuts), mixed with coconut flakes, or an ounce of dark (70% cacao) chocolate
- Smoked salmon and cream cheese on cucumber slices
- Slices of melon wrapped in thin slice of ham
- A smoothie made of plain yogurt, fresh fruit and a splash of juice. Throw in an avocado for a dose of healthy fats
If you are dieting, try these low-calorie healthy snack ideas:
- Pickles (think beyond cucumbers—you can now find pickled green beans, tomatillos, and more . . )
- Edamame
- A hardboiled egg
- Dried seaweed—Trader Joe's sells spicy "wasabi" seaweed strips that I find addictive.
- Sauerkraut (available lately in all sort of great flavors)
- Carrot and celery sticks dipped in salsa
- A cup of pureed veggie soup—sip it straight from a cup or thermos if you're on the go and don't have a spoon
More about the best foods to snack on:
3 Yummy, Healthy Snacks Your Body Loves
What are some of your go-to healthy snack ideas?
