Healthy Snack Attack

 

Why are snacks important?

Snacks are important because they help keep your energy level up between meals so you can do the things you like to do. Eating small, well-balanced snacks between meals can also keep you from eating too much at meal time.

 

What snacks should I choose?

Foods from the grain, fruit, vegetable, protein, and dairy groups are healthy snacks because they are packed with nutrients. Foods like chips, cookies, and candy are not as healthy because they are loaded with refined grains and sugars that can raise your insulin levels. It's okay to eat these snacks once in a while, but not every day. Remember to pick high fiber, low sugar foods from the grain group and combine them with high protein foods. For example, try apple or celery and peanut butter, whole-wheat crackers and cheese, whole-wheat pita or carrots and hummus, or yogurt and nuts.

 

Easy snack ideas

• String cheese
• Popcorn - try the mini microwave bag!
• High fiber cereal like Kashi®, Puffins®, and Shredded Wheat® (look for more than 5 grams of fiber per serving)
• Nuts
• Fruit such as an apple, orange or grapes
• Energy Bar, such as Balance® Luna® or GNU Foods® (look for <25 grams of carbohydrates per bar)
• Peanut butter and celery, apple, or crackers
• Yogurt with granola or fruit
• Yogurt smoothies
• Hummus and carrots
• Cottage cheese
• Cheese and high fiber crackers like Kashi TLC®, Ak-Mak®, Triscuit®, or WASA® (look for at least 2 grams of fiber per serving)
• Fruit Salad
• Sugar-free Jell-O® with fruit
• Soy nuts
• Raw vegetables (like baby carrots) with reduced-fat ranch dressing or yogurt dip
• Celery with low fat cream cheese
• Sunflower seeds
• Whole wheat bread or English muffin with cheese

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

 

Updated 1/10/2008

 

 

Related Information:

• Healthy Eating: A Guide for Teens
• Fun Fitness
• My Fitness Plan - Getting Started!
• PCOS Nutrition
• Related Links

 

Looking for other health info? Check our A-to-Z Index. ©1998-2008 Center for Young Women's Health Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Privacy Policy Terms of Use Health Guides By Topic Health Guides A-to-Z Guías de la Salud A-a-Z   We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.