Top 5 Healthy Snacks
These days I’m so busy that I often find I get these hunger pangs that set in right after my first class or training session. I run out to grab something to eat, but it’s so hard to make the right choices when you’re so hungry and all this yummy stuff is staring at you from the grocery shelves. If I had time to prepare healthier alternatives (like an omelette, or salad, or yogurt with fruit and granola), then I’d be set for the day. But I usually don't, so instead I snack!
So, how do I stay healthy on a day’s worth of snacks? Not as hard as you think! I’ve learned that if I prepare in advance, I can carry around super-healthy stuff and feel great about my choices. On days when I’m less prepared, it’s about being a smart consumer and knowing what to buy and where.
Here is my list of Top 5 healthy snacks to carry in your purse or gym bag so you can eat on the go and stay away from fast-food junky alternatives.
Nuts. Nuts are such an amazing source of protein and good fat, plus they’re so tasty. I like the roasted or salty kind, and sometimes I splurge and throw some dried cranberries into the mix for a little added sweetness. If you can, you should have a small container or bag of nuts on you at all times. They’re good to eat morning, day and night.
Apples and Pears. Most fruit is portable. You can feel good about storing any fruit in your tote-along, but apples and pears keep super well and are so good for you. Most importantly, they fill you up. That’s an essential criteria when deciding what’s going to take up space in your bag. Bananas, berries, or other pre-cut fruit like melon or pineapple, are also a great snack.
Protein Bars. These can act as meal replacers or as a pick-me-up before or after your workout. They come in an array of flavours and consistencies, and you can eat them on the go. They make them sweet, salty, spicy, chewy, crunchy—no matter which you choose, they are packed with protein and usually loaded with fruits and other fibrous benefits.
Dried Fruit. Almost like a fruit salad, you can bring along any of your favourite fruits in a bag if you dehydrate them (or buy them already dried – try to buy the kind that are made without sugar and added preservatives). Apricots, dates, mango, pineapple, apple… there are so many wonderful fruits that taste so good once dried out. If you hit up open-air markets, they often have strawberries and other summer treats that are super healthy and so delicious.
Cereal. I am a cereal freak! I love a good bowl of cereal, but nothing stops me from enjoying it dry either. I like making a combo of a few of my faves and keeping them in my bag. Delicious, nutritious, and comforting. Fills up your belly, and if you make the right choices, you can get some great benefits from some of the cereals out there.
Whether I have a busy day ahead with no time for sit-down meals, or I want to be prepared just in case, I always have some type of goody on me. Water is a staple, but other than that, the snacks are on rotation. I either grab them from home, or I buy them while I’m out (if I have time). All of the snacks listed above are super accessible. You can find them in supermarkets, corner stores and even coffee shops. So, there is no reason you should ever have to eat badly… even on the busiest days. #NoExcuses