When you have a hectic work schedule and you only have 5 minutes to grab a snack, that vending machine down the hall becomes mighty tempting. But you don't have to eat junk food just because you're in a hurry. Luckily with just a little bit of planning and smart choices, you can snack healthfully even when you're on-the-go. Here are 7 healthy snacks, perfect for busy lives.
1. Single Serve Low fat cottage cheese with fruit
Cottage cheese is full of protein and when its labeled to contain “live active cultures” and “probiotics,” it can help keep your gut healthy. Adding in convenient and fresh fruit is super portable, healthy and fresh gives you a fiber and antioxidant boost, guaranteed to keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.
2. Raw Veggies with Hummus
Carrot sticks, celery sticks, raw broccoli are all great options. Cut them up beforehand and take some hummus with you and you'll have a crunchy snack at your fingertips.
3. 0% Plain Greek Yogurt with 1/2 cup high-fiber cereal
Greek Yogurt is full of protein which will take away those 3pm munchies, and high-fiber cereal provides a fun mix-in when you're eating plain Greek Yogurt.
4. Hard Boiled Eggs
5. Snack Bars
The key here is choosing the right snack bar. Choose a bar that is 200 calories or less, has at least 4g protein and 4g fiber, and is low in added sugar (<8g per bar). Some great options: LaraBar, KIND Bars, or 1/2 of a CORE Foods Bar.
6. Nut Butter on Sprouted Wheat Bread
2 tbsp of Almond or Peanut butter can pack 8g of protein and a bit of fiber, add that to 1 slice of Ezekiel Sprouted Wheat bread and you’ve got a balanced snack full of fiber and protein.
7. Low Fat Organic String Cheese
Contrary to popular belief, a little bit of cheese can be good for you in moderation! Pair 1 serving of string cheese (about 80 calories and 7g protein) with some veggies or fruit for a complete snack.
Anjali Shah is a food writer, board certified health coach, and owner of The Picky Eater, a healthy food and lifestyle blog. Her work has been featured on Oprah.com, Women' s Health, Cooking Light, Reader's Digest, CNN, Food Network, Glamour, Ladies' Home Journal, Whole Foods, and SHAPE Magazine. Anjali grew up a “whole wheat” girl, but married a “white bread” kind of guy. Hoping to prove that nutritious food could in fact be delicious and desirable, she taught herself how to cook and successfully transformed her husband’s eating habits from a diet of frozen pizzas and fast food to her healthy, yet flavorful recipes made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Main Photo Credit: Angie D'Amico/shutterstock.com; Second Photo Credit: Brent Hofacker/shutterstock.com
