Snack foods provide an extra boost during the day so that we can somehow get back to what we're really supposed to be doing. Sometimes we're actually hungry, but more often than not it's driven by that, "I wonder what I can eat?" question that regularly pops into every mind. If by chance the question is now, "I wonder what HEALTHY thing I can eat?", here are a few options.
A half cup of non-fat Greek yogurt mixed with berries and a packet or two of artificial sweetener (or honey) can be a good high protein snack option. Protein takes longer for the body to digest and therefore satisfies hunger for a longer period of time. You can add some crunch to this snack by topping it with chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds.
A health professional friend of ours gave us some of these for Christmas. A handful of these babies can hit the spot when you just have to have some chocolate. Don't go nuts with the nuts -- a small portion is critical to keep your healthy snack low in calories. Dark cocoa powder supposedly has some health benefits (bless the scientist who came up with that one!), and almonds are one of the healthier nuts. If you want your almonds without cocoa, an even healthier option is to eat them raw (not roasted, not salted).
Okay you knew I was going to bring out veggie sticks at some point, but does that look so bad? I even included a little whole wheat goldfish shaped roll for you to enjoy with some hummus. If you've never had hummus before, give it a try for a new taste sensation. It comes in a variety of flavors besides the original plain. Read the label and be careful about the sodium in it if that is an issue for you. A tablespoon of old-fashoined peanut butter is a high protein condiment on your veggies if hummus is not your thing. Salsa is another approved alternative, but it comes with the same sodium alert. Learn to read the labels.
A protein shake is another option for a filling, healthy snack. Be aware that they are an acquired taste. If your response after making your first shake is, "It looked like a milkshake, but it tastes like BLECH!!!," you are normal. After your second or third attempt (and a bit of tweaking with the ingredients), you may find yourself exclaiming, "That was surprisingly satisfying!" Many recipes for protein shakes are available on the internet, but generally they involve a scoop of protein powder along with the additives of your choice. Additive options include 6-8oz of milk, crushed ice, berries, fruit juice, honey, flavor extracts, sugar-free chocolate syrup -- and an occasional brave soul puts in some unidentified matter so that it comes out green. Put it all in a blender and beat the begeebers out of it because protein powder has a tendency to resist dissolving. Protein powders also come in a variety of flavors including vanilla and chocolate, which generally improves the flavor of the shake. Unless you are very brave, don't try plain powder. It can be useful for adding protein to something else that already tastes good. Soy products can be difficult to digest until your system gets adjusted to them. If you're new to eating soy, you may need to take a Beano along with your shake at first. Have I sold you on protein shakes yet?
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