5 Healthy Snacks That Will Help You Say Goodbye To Your Cravings

Maintaining an array of healthy eating habits, while working hard on a 9 to 5 job, can be quite the ask for people in this dynamic world of possibilities. Often we find ourselves shying away from a healthy snack due to the lack of awareness about them, and of course, because of the plethora of tempting options.

Another reason people do not attempt to avoid junk food is also that of the misconception that healthy snacks are time-consuming to make. And to bust this myth, here are some easy to make, and almost readily available snacks for you to munch on throughout your day!

#1 Greek Yogurt:

Greek yogurt is yogurt which does not contain lactose, minerals, and excessive water that is otherwise present in normal yogurt. Compared to yogurt, Greek yogurt has twice the protein content, and half the sodium and carbohydrate levels.

It is a good alternative for people who are lactose intolerant, as the lactose content is much lower when compared to the standard yogurt.

Greek yogurt is also rich in probiotics, which is a healthy bacteria that helps in augmenting the digestive system and helps boost immunity. It is also heavily sought after by fitness freaks who snack on it as is, or by adding it to their supplement smoothie.

Building strong muscles and proper functioning of vital organs can be taken care of by the calcium content in the Greek yogurt, as it provides you with 18.7% of your daily requirement of calcium.

Greek yogurt can be beneficial for vegetarians who do not consume eggs, fish, and meat. It is rich in vitamin B-12, that is usually required by people who cannot afford to consume animal products. It also boasts as an excellent source of iodine, which is essential in proper thyroid functioning for healthy metabolism.

#2 Popcorn:

Snacking on popcorn is one of the healthiest eating habits as it is packed with fiber, fights cancer, and has more antioxidants than fruits and vegetables. Now talk about a great resume for a snack! It is the perfect dieting snack, but don't get any ideas and indulge in a large popcorn at your nearest movie theater. Hold your horses!

The healthiest form of popcorn is air-popped, which cumulates to about 30 calories. Not the gourmet popcorn with a processed melted cheese dressing, alongside 1,200 calories and 60 grams of saturated fats. That's a big no-no! Air-popped popcorn is easy to make, and here is how you can make yourself a bowl:

Put 4-5 tablespoons of kernels in a paper bag
Fold the top of the bag to ensure it does not pop out
Microwave it for about 3 minutes or,
Until you hear no more pops!

A research was done by the University of Scranton, where popcorn was found to be abundant in polyphenols. Polyphenols are naturally occurring chemicals in plants and are known the world around for reducing inflammation due to its antioxidant properties. Another power of polyphenols that is of vital importance is its propensity to shun out enzymes that cancers need to grow on.

Since popcorn is rich in fiber resources, it takes a longer time to digest, making it much less tempting for you to grab that packet of potato chips or chocolate-chipped cookies. If you consider yourself as someone with a sweet tooth, you can go ahead and add apple pie sauce to your popcorn.

On the contrary, if you would like to spice things up, hot sauce, chilli flakes or a dash of oregano can also do the trick. Popcorn can also act as a perfect substitute for snacks that are usually rich in malign levels of sodium and unsaturated fats, making your snack time healthy and delicious.

#3 Oatmeal:

Oatmeal has been a favourite amongst families and is preferred by many as an easy to make and healthy breakfast option. Be it an instant fix for those unexpected hunger twinges or a satisfying evening snack, oatmeal not only helps you stay in check with your daily calorie intake but also, keeps you energized throughout the day.

It is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which prevent suffering from coronary heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Oats have proven to be a rich source of magnesium and has helped prevent heart attacks by relaxing blood vessels and regulating blood pressure. Insulin regulation and proper utilization of glucose by the body are kept in control by the high measure of magnesium.

For people suffering from diabetes, oats are a perfect addition to their diets as it helps in regulating blood sugar levels, thanks to the high fiber and low glycemic index.

Oats are known for aiding the weight loss process as a hunger-combating hormone, cholecystokinin, is increased by a compound present in oats called, beta-glucan. Consuming oats on a daily basis throughout the week slows the digestion process and makes you fight hunger for longer.

Oats also leaves behind a little something for food enthusiasts who like to experiment with quick bite recipes like an oatmeal bar, a banana oats smoothie, or a chocolate banana oatmeal.

#4 Apple Slices with Peanut Butter:

Talk about the amalgamation of something that regularly keeps the doctor away and at the same time, is buttery and inviting. Yep! Apple slices with peanut butter are the way to go to beat those cravings!

Apples have been a part of the household fruit basket for as long as one can remember. It is a healthy fruit that consists of the required dosage of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Usually, during a weight loss diet, apples are recommended to be eaten as it contains two of the most filling components - fiber and water. The fiber and water contents slow the process of digestion, thereby enabling you to hold off those sudden jolts of hunger pangs.

Peanut butter is arguably the best spread on a crispy toast, but one has to be adventurous to use it as a spread on apples. But hey! It turns out that this combination is, in fact, super yummy! Peanuts are rich in energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They aid in lowering down levels of bad cholesterol and contains fatty acids like oleic acid that prevents coronary diseases.

Regular consumption of peanuts has also proven to reduce the risk of gallbladder stones both in men, and women.

Depression is one of the most deadly conditions that more people suffer from as a result of increasing stress in both the professional as well as the personal front. Consuming up to two tablespoons of peanut butter can increase serotonin levels in the body, that in turn helps fight depression. Also, peanut butter when consumed by pregnant women helps in significantly lowering the risk of the baby suffering from neural tube defects.

Here is a fun recipe for peanut butter and apples that you can experiment with at your home or workplace!

So what is it that you are waiting for? Slice those apples and make sure you dunk them right into a bowl of creamy peanut butter!

#5 Cucumber Slices with Hummus:

Yes! You heard that right! Cucumber hummus bites are a great choice of a snack right before that all important meeting at the office. It is hassle-free to make and packs a great deal of nutrition along with its crispy and creamy consistency.

Cucumbers are made up of 95% water, are low on calories and high in fiber, and contain an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin. Fisetin behaves as an antioxidant that maintains mitochondrial function and causes the reduction in the age-related deterioration of brain function.

Cucumbers are also a perfect inclusion in caloric-deficit diets as a cup of nicely diced cucumbers contain only as much as 16 calories!

Hummus has a high amount of protein. For all the vegetarians out there, hummus is an excellent source of protein and can be an immaculate substitute for meat, eggs, and fish.

Hummus is a paste-like by-product of chickpeas, that consist of nutrients that considerably lower the rate of cholesterol in the blood. It also promotes weight loss and reduction in belly-fat, because of the monosaturated fat content present in them.

Hummus also is regarded as one of the healthier alternatives of mayo, which is essentially just eggs and fat. It is free of gluten, nuts, and any dairy product, thereby making it easy to eat for people who have certain types of allergies. Also, the calcium content in hummus contributes to bone health, extensively reducing the chances of suffering from osteoporosis during old age.

Here is a cucumber hummus bite recipe, for you to try out and enjoy!

So the next time you hear that familiar growl from your stomach, alleviate yourself from it by indulging in a freshly cut cucumber, topped with a creamy layer of hummus!

Edited by Kumud Ranjan