Cheesy-Crunchy-Sweet-Salty Snacks can undermine your healthy eating plan in just a few bites. In fact, the biggest source of artery-clogging saturated fat in the American diet is cheese. Just one ounce of full-fat cheese can have as much saturated fat as a McDonald’s® Quarter-Pounder.
But snacking is actually good for your health. Several small meals throughout the day is a great way to curb hunger and provide energy and nutrients. Guests at the Pritikin Center enjoy a bountiful selection of snack items twice a day.
So how do you get your snack time fix? Consider these 7 quick and easy combos.
1. Baked Potato and Chili
Just pour vegetarian chili or your favorite soup over your baked potato for a quick, hearty meal or snack. (A good brand of canned vegetarian chili is Health Valley®.)
2. Corn and Salsa
Simply microwave frozen no-salt-added corn and mix in fresh salsa. Make it even more fiber-rich and heartier by adding canned low-sodium beans and diced red peppers.
3. Tuna and Kavli
Combine canned tuna and fresh pre-washed baby spinach. Spoon over a couple of Kavli® or Wasa® Crispbreads. The only effort involved is opening up a can of tuna.
4. Soup and Veggies
Thicken and flavor your soup by adding veggies. For example, add to a big bowl of lentil soup a box of microwaved frozen spinach. Easy!
5. Yogurt and Fruit
Stir into nonfat plain yogurt fresh sliced bananas and strawberries. Easier yet, open up a can of no-sugar-added fruit like Del Monte® and mix with your yogurt.
6. Beans and Just About Anything
Keep a ready supply of no-salt-added canned beans like pinto and cannellini beans. Pour over salads, tortillas, pastas, baked potatoes, rice, soups, you name it.
7. Pitas and Just About Anything
Stuff a whole-wheat pita (good low-sodium brands are Garden of Eatin’® and Toufayan Bakeries® Pitettes – no salt added)) with just about anything already in the fridge or pantry, such as fresh cucumber and other veggies, hummus, fresh turkey breast (oven roasted, deli-style, no salt), salmon (canned, rinsed, unsalted), or fat-free cheese. Good fat-free cheese brands include Alpine Lace®, Lifetime®, and Smart Beat®. Use the cheeses sparingly because they’re fairly high in sodium. |
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