Chips and cookies might seem tasty, but they are not the healthiest choices. Healthy snacks do not have to be boring either. There are many strategies to eating healthier snacks

Plan your snacks

Impulsive snacks are less likely to be healthy. Plan you snacking by writing a list for your grocery shopping trip. Add healthy snack items like fruits, nuts, and whole grains to your list. At home, pack your healthy snacks to take when you run errands or to keep in your desk at work.

Stock Your Refrigerator

Keeping healthy foods in your refrigerator will allow you easy access to healthy snacks. Cut carrots and celery into sticks and purchase a vegetable dip for snacking. Yogurt and cheese sticks can also make good snacks if they are readily available.

Resist Buying Junk Food

Chips and cookies are loaded with salt, fat, and sugar. They may be alright for an occasional treat but not an everyday snack. Instead, when you go to the grocery store, avoid the snack food and cookie aisles entirely. Try to stick to the perimeter of the store for the healthiest choices like dairy, produce, whole grains, and lean proteins. In addition, if you eat a satisfying meal before you go to the grocery store, you are less likely to make impulse purchases than if you are hungry.

Try Homemade Options

Most foods that you make yourself are healthier than processed foods. For example, if you make a batch of muffins from scratch, they will be lower in calories than those you buy from the store. Additionally, you can often make recipe substitutions for an even better choice. In the muffin example, you can replace the oil in the recipe with an equal amount of applesauce, and cut the amount of sugar by one fourth. You will still have moist, tasty muffins with less fat and sugar.

Have a Colorful Fruit Bowl

Purchase a variety of fruit and arrange it in a pretty bowl. Keep this fruit bowl in plain sight, perhaps in the center of the kitchen table, for a grab-and-go snack. In addition, cut down on fruit juices which have added sugar and are not nearly as satisfying as a piece of fruit.

Snacks do not have to be empty calories. Enjoying healthy snacks will allow you to take in more vitamins and minerals while reducing less healthful substances. It’s also important to visit a dentist to make sure your teeth are in good health. While healthy snacking can help improve your oral health, it’s still important to get regular cleanings and checkups. Following some simple strategies will soon turn into a healthy life time habit.