Have Cravings? Try These Healthier Snacks
By Sara Butler
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight would be a lot easier if it weren't for those pesky cravings. But there are a few ways you can assuage your cravings without blowing your healthy eating habits out of the water. If you have a late night salt or sugar craving, then here are a few things you can try to satisfy your cravings -- in moderation, of course.
When You Crave Potato Chips
Potato chips, those deep fried carbohydrate-laden salty slices of goodness, are not good for your health. One chip has about 10 calories, so you can see how the calories can add up quickly! Not to mention the saturated fats involved.
To help you satisfy your craving for something salty and crunchy, then try:
- Air-popped popcorn - Popping up 1 ounce of popcorn kernals can provide you about 3 cups of popped popcorn for just 110 calories and 4 grams of fiber because it's a whole grain
- Seeds and nuts - It's true that seeds and nuts are calorie-dense foods, but they're full of good fats and fiber too, so they can fill you a lot faster than chips
- Seaweed - Seaweed chips or even kale chips can help to provide that crunch you're looking for and one 6 ounce serving has just 30 calories
- Briny foods - Low-sodium pickles, kimchi, and olives are all great foods to help satisfy those salt cravings and have fewer calories too
French Fries
French fries taste good, but they're full of calories and fat. The average order of small fries will run you 11 grams of fat and 230 calories. Other deep-fried sides, such as onion rings, have 9 grams of fat with 180 calories.
If you're craving something like french fries, then try:
- Edamame - One cup of this snack will only run 189 calories and it has 17 grams of protein to help you feel full
- Baked potatoes - If nothing but a potato will do, then go for a baked potato. One medium baked potato only has 161 calories and four grams of fiber to boot.
Candy Bars
If you get a craving for something sweet, try not to go for a candy bar. A Snickers bar has 14 grams of fat, 35 grams of sugar, and 280 calories. Do better by choosing 70 percent dark chocolate; a dark chocolate bar that is at least 70 percent cocoa is only 190 calories with 14 grams of fat. It has less sugar and more antioxidants than milk chocolate and it'll satisfy your chocolate craving too.
Your cravings don't have to rule your life. Satisfy them the healthy way and you can have the best of both worlds!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Aurora, Colo.