This week it’s foods which are great for snacking. These snacking wonders work either at home or on the go. These little treats are healthy as well as filling the hunger gap when you get the munchies…..
It’s been suggested that increasing your number of ‘meals’ through snacking can have a beneficial impact on blood sugar regulation and can help manage hunger levels more efficiently. Snacking can also increase your intake of fruit and vegetables – most people don’t eat enough of these!
A good snack provides a balance of protein, healthy fats, carbs and fibre – to make sure it hits the spot and also helps fill you up – it’s main aim! Read on for some snacking wonders!
Mixed Nuts
Nuts are a great on the go snack with many to chose from. Walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews and pistachios are among my favourites.
No refrigeration or preparation in advance means they are great to carry around in your bag and snack on whenever you need.
They are the great balance of healthy fats, protein and fibre and are filling and nutritious. They have a high natural fat content so a handful of nuts is enough to snack on.
Red pepper and guacamole
I love this combo – it’s fresh and light. Often I mash an avocado and season with lemon juice, salt, pepper and a little olive oil to have with the red pepper. Crispy and light on the taste buds it still fills me up when I’m looking for a snack at home in the afternoon.
Red peppers are particularly full of antioxidants whilst avocados are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These promote good heart health, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They are also full of fibre which is great for the digestive system
Hard boiled eggs
An easy snack and a great one! Health benefits of eggs include being a good source of protein which builds and repairs muscles. They are also a rich source of choline which supports brain function and cell membranes.
Eggs are an excellent source of Vitamin K to support blood health and blood clotting and they promote good heart health due to betaine which can help prevent damage to blood vessels
Cucumber slices with hummus
Another fresh and tasty snack. Hummus is usually made with chickpeas which have a nutty taste and are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. The protein and fibre in chickpeas help keep appetites under control so good for those managing their weight. Some studies have shown eating chickpeas reduces the number of calories consumed during the rest of the day!
Chickpeas have a reasonably low glycemic index (GI) which is a reflection of how rapidly blood sugar rises after eating food. Diets including low GI foods have been shown to promote good blood sugar management. Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is important to prevent type 2 diabetes.
Some great tips for snacking and if you’re a fan of chickpeas you may like this salad – a good options as the days get lighter and Spring is on its way…..