5 Tips for Smarter Snacking & BONUS Healthy Snack Ideas

Everyone loves a good snack. It can give you the energy boost you need in the afternoon to make it through the rest of the day. It can satisfy your cravings. And it can feel like a well-deserved treat. However, what you snack on and how often you snack can have a big impact on your overall health.

To help you stay on track with your snacks, here are some tips for smarter snacking.

5 Tips for Smarter Snacking

1. Determine the kind of snacker you are. Are you the kind of person who eats a snack when they are bored? When they are anxious? Do you eat the whole bag of family-size chips? Or can you successfully portion control on your own? Understanding why and how you snack will help you identify the bad habits that you need to change. For example, if you snack when you feel a certain way emotionally, you might need to find a different outlet to process those emotions, like going on a walk instead. If you are tempted by large batches of food, then you could start dividing larger portions into smaller ones to help you with portion control.
2. Think of snacks like mini meals. Too often, we reach for snacks just because. However, if you think about snacks like mini meals and treat them as such, you can be more mindful about what you are eating and eliminate some of that mindless snacking throughout the day. Eat your mini meal when you are hungry, just like you would other meals throughout the day. Just because it’s a snack, doesn’t mean it has to be small or boring!
3. Look for snacks with protein and fiber. These nutrients will help you feel full and give you the energy your body needs. You can always pair up different foods as well to create a powerful combo snack with both protein and fiber. For example, hummus is high in protein and carrots contain fiber. Just watch out for snacks that are also high in added sugars or sodium.
4. Stock your pantry with healthier snack options. Trade in those potato chips for some nuts and dried fruit. If you only have healthy snack options at home, then you won’t be able to snack on junk food because it’s simply not around! You can take these healthier snack options with you on the go too, so you won’t be tempted to buy that candy bar or cookie at the register.
5. Don’t forget to stay hydrated. You might think your body is hungry when really it just wants a drink. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and try and pair your snacks with a drink too. That doesn’t mean you should pair your snack with a soda or sugary drink. Instead, reach for water, herbal tea, sparkling water, and other drink options that are low in added sugars.

BONUS Healthy Snack Ideas

Now that we’ve reviewed some healthy snacking tips, we want to share some healthy snack ideas with you.

Greek Yogurt + Fresh Fruits or Nuts

Greek yogurt has less sugar than other yogurts on the grocery aisle. It’s also higher in carbs. In fact, ½ of Greek yogurt has 11g of protein and 6g of carbs but only 90 calories. Greek yogurt also has a flexible flavor that can go with just about anything.

We love pairing Greek yogurt with grapes, sunflower seeds, even canned peaches! You can explore our snack recipes with Greek yogurt here.

Ham Veggie Wrap

Another great snack idea is a wrap. This Ham Veggie Wrap boasts 11g protein, 32g carbs, 1.7 servings of veggies, and 8.5g of fiber! Because of its high nutrient content, this wrap is sure to fill you up. Of course, you can also customize a wrap with ingredients you have in the fridge already. We just recommend sticking to a few staples:

• Whole wheat tortilla
• Source of protein (ham, turkey, hummus, beans, etc.)
• Fresh veggies

Just throw everything together, and you’ve got yourself a delicious and nutritious mini meal.

Almond Butter Blueberry Muffins

If you’re looking for a snack that you can easily batch cook, then muffins are a great way to go. Batch cooking lets you make more servings of s dish at one time, so you don’t have to prepare food as often. Then, you’ll have a snack ready to go when you need it.

We love these Almond Butter Blueberry Muffins because they take just 20 minutes to make and use many ingredients that you already have in your pantry. Each serving has 8.2g protein, 23g carbs, and 4g of fiber. You can always pair these muffins with some fresh fruit or vegetables, too.

Pineapple Coconut Hemp Smoothie

Smoothies are another great snack idea. You can add fresh fruits, vegetables, and even seeds to get a healthy drink that also promotes satiety. Our Pineapple Coconut Hemp Smoothie has a hidden ingredient: cauliflower! With this smoothie, you get a full serving of fruit and a full serving of veggies! Plus, it has almost 10g of protein and 4.6g of fiber.

Smoothies are also easy to customize. You can always trade out fruits and veggies for your own culinary creation. But if you’re looking for inspiration we have over 100 different snack smoothies on EatLove, and you can always add your own smoothie recipe to our platform.

If you’re looking for a better way to snack, give our nutrition intelligence a try. EatLove can create customized meal plans, including snacks, for you based on your specific dietary requirements and preferences. Try our platform out today.