How to Make Your Own Healthy Snacks at Home
By Stephen R. Farris
Going to the grocery store and trying to find healthy food and snacks can be overwhelming. Since most shelves, coolers, and freezers are full of processed foods that may be high in sodium content, carbs, and hidden sugars, you might not find any that you can safely include into your healthy meal planning.
Now is the time to think outside the box. Get inventive. Shop your grocer's produce aisle and meat market instead of loading your cart with canned or pre-packaged processed foods. There are plenty of new ways and ideas you could come up with to stay with your family's healthy eating plan.
Roast Some Edamame
Edamame may be hard to find in your local grocery store's produce section. However, if the store has an organic produce section, you might be able to find it there. What is edamame you ask? It's basically soybeans that haven't fully ripened. You can boil them, steam them, or roast edamame. They contain protein and other healthy nutrients, including fiber. Like chickpeas and popcorn, you can sprinkle your favorite seasoning spice (garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, etc. to give them more flavor.
Trail Mix
Make your own homemade trail mix. Just mix some nuts, seeds, and dried fruit into a bowl and you have a delicious, healthy snack. You'll get a dose of protein and fiber into your healthy diet, but make sure your dried fruit is not coated with lots of sugar.
Pumpkin Seeds
Since this is the fall season, this is the best time to take advantage of collecting a lot of pumpkin seeds out of those carved pumpkins you and your kiddos are carving. Pumpkin seeds are rich in nutrients, especially magnesium. The best way to prepare pumpkin seeds for snacking is to drizzle them in olive oil, add a dash of sea salt, and your choice of spice(s), then bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Guacamole and Chips (Plantain, that is)
If you're a fan of guacamole, then you know the key ingredient (avocados) is a good source of healthy fats. However, when you use chips bought from the grocery store, or made from corn tortillas, then you kind of lose the healthiness of it. So instead of using chips from your grocer, slice up some plantains into chips and bake them at 400 degrees in the oven for about 15-20 minutes. Plantains are the healthier choice, versus store-bought chips.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Taylors, S.C.