Can Snacks Be a Health Food and Vitamin Choice?

Everyone likes to have a snack from time to time and particularly after you have been burning up energy through a physical activity. Snacks should be eaten in small portions. But don’t be fooled by size into thinking snacks are not a good health food and vitamin choice.

Nuts and seeds: nuts and seeds are a good source of protein and are packed full of vitamins and nutrients. They are always a good choose of foods for snack time. Although, they contain a higher portion of fat, it is the healthier unsaturated kind and so they make a good snack when you feel a little hungry. Be on guard if you are real hungry because you may have the tendency to eat too big a portion. Eat no more than a hand full of nuts (about 1.5 oz) for a quick and nutritious snack.

Cookies and bars: if you have more of a sweat tooth at snack time, look at the low-fat and low sugar snacks such as oatmeal cookies or a protein/nutrition bar. There are many energy bars available now to choose from and they are made to give you a balanced nutrition with vitamins in small portions, so they make good and convenient snacks.

Crackers and cheese: if you crave the salty snacks it will take will power to stay away from the high carbohydrate and fat these snacks contain. Watch out for crackers and chips as they may contain higher amounts of fats such as trans fats or saturated. Package labels will provide the nutrition information so read carefully before you buy.

Pretzels or popcorn: there are plenty of low-fat and low-sodium crackers, pretzels, chips, etc. Served with a variety of low-fat cheeses or vegetable spreads will add flavors and extra vitamins and nutrients at snack time. Keep the portion size small because the calories in these snacks can add up fast. For a low-calorie option, a cup of popcorn makes a nice crunchy snack. Reduce the amount of fat by sprinkling a little celery salt or spice instead of using butter and salt. Product packages will give you the calories per serving sizes so you can keep the portion sizes right while being energized and still not exceed your total daily intake requirements.

Fruit and vegetables: Any fruit such as apples, berries, melons or a mixture of these will give you a host of vitamins and nutrients. Add a half apple or other fruit when you eat any other snack food to make a more balanced and healthy snack. Raw vegetables such as carrots and celery make nutritious snacks that are low in fat and rich in vitamins and nutrients.

What is most important with any snack is to combine health food and vitamins in a proper balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats for your level of physical activity. The more active you are the more you’ll require snacks between meals. If you are less active but like to snack eat fewer calories at meal times and divide the rest of your daily requirements into the number of snacks. If you are conscious about losing or maintaining your weight, be sure to keep the calories from fats between 10 to 20% of the total with each snack.

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