Most of us are now working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This can create a potential for unhealthy snacking choices as the temptations to eat are higher with each passing day. Before the epidemic, many health-conscious people stayed away from unhealthy snack foods high in salt, sugar, fat, and calories. However, with everyone panic-buying, grocery stores are seeing a shortage of supplies, and we are forced to stock up on whatever is left. This has the potential to change our diets. However, it is essential to remember that even with these restrictions, eating the right foods will help us maintain healthy bodies during these difficult times.
Not all snacking is bad
Most people think that snacking is bad. Snacking is not always a bad thing, especially when you are snacking on healthy foods. Small portioned nutritiously, and well-balanced snacks can keep your energies up between mealtimes. Healthy snacking helps you control your hunger, thus helping with weight management. Healthy snacking can even help you consume more healthy nutrients such as healthy carbohydrates from whole grains and low-fat proteins from non-fat dairy foods and nuts. Ensure you maintain healthy snacking habits throughout the day.
Change your snacking habits
If you find yourself snacking on high-calorie and unhealthy snacks like chips, chocolates, and sodas, it’s time to change. Unhealthy snacks have little to no nutritional value and will contribute to weight gain. Evaluate your snack time and identify the reason you crave those unhealthy snacks. If you are snacking due to hunger, ensure that you fix yourself a proper well-balanced meal. However, some people tend to snack when not hungry due to anxiety, stress, boredom, or depression. It’s essential to formulate another way to deal with your emotions- call a friend and spend some time with them, go out for a walk or a run and spend some time writing in your journal. The next time you get that craving for some chips, take a few minutes to evaluate whether you are hungry.
Six healthy foods you can snack on
- Healthy smoothies; smoothies are easy to make, but they can also help you incorporate more fruits into your diet and meet your calcium needs. You can make a smoothie using some frozen fruits, low-fat milk, and protein powder.
- Yogurt and strawberries; strawberries make the best snacks as they are packed with potassium, fiber, and vitamin C. You can cut the berries and eat them with yogurt.
- Vanilla milk; sprinkle some cinnamon to your glass of low-fat milk and add a few vanilla drops. This drink will provide you with calcium and proteins to keep you going.
- Protein Bars; substitute granola bars with more nutritious protein bars that provide over 5 grams of protein, including fruits and nuts for extra nutrition.
- Low-fat cheese with a bowl of vegetable soup; add some low-fat grated cheese to a hot tomato or vegetable soup for your afternoon snack to keep you satisfied till dinner time.
- Hummus and carrots; eating protein-rich hummus with carrots makes for a healthy, well-balanced snack. Carrots contain beta carotene that helps improve eyesight and promotes healthy skin.
Substitute treats such as fried foods, sweets, and chips which offer little to no nutrition value to your body with healthy snacks. Treats only tend to satisfy a craving and don’t leave you full. Healthy snacks satisfy both your hunger and your cravings. Examples of tasty, healthy snacks include whole-grain bread with peanut butter, dried fruit, protein shakes, and smoothies, bananas, and low-fat milk. Always remember to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water throughout the day. You can add chunks of fruits and lemon in your water for extra encouragement.