Healthy Snacking Choices
By Randi Morse
The older I'm getting, the more of a snacker I'm becoming. I know that a lot of things change as you get older, but I truly didn't expect to start snacking so much! Not only did I become a snacker, my husband did as well. A handful of months ago he realized that he'd been gaining weight and he wasn't happy about it, so we resolved to make a number of changes. And they're working! The biggest change we made was to have healthy snacking options around the house. It's easier to make healthy snacking choices when they're easily available.
Eggs
Eggs are extremely nutritious. They're packed full of protein and are a great go-to for afternoon snacking. Hard boiled eggs are also filled with other vitamins that can help give your body energy during the day. I tend to pressure cook mine, as they come out perfectly every time. To do this simply place the eggs in a steamer basket or a trivet and put them in your pressure cooker. Put one cup of water in the bottom of the pressure cooker and cook them on high for six to eight minutes. The less time, the less solid the yolk will be. I like my yolk to be like custard so I cook them for six minutes or under. Once the timer goes off immediately release the steam and place the eggs in an ice water bath. The shells will peel off perfectly.
Yogurt
My husband and daughter have become Greek yogurt experts. My daughter loves to add some fruit to her Greek yogurt and recently been using it to make "overnight oats." To do this, add one part oats to one part milk. You then add extras, like Greek yogurt or vanilla extract. My daughter tends to add a little maple syrup. You can even add healthy options like chia seeds. Mix everything up until there are no clumps and seal with plastic wrap or a lid. Let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning you can add toppings like fruit or slivered almonds. This is not only a great breakfast dish, it's fantastic as a snacking dish as well.
The general rule about snacking is this: find something that is high in protein and low in sugar. Nuts, legumes, yogurt, eggs, all of these are high in protein and are great choices if you're looking for healthy snacking options.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Dacula, Ga.