Popcorn. One
of our favorite snacks is popcorn. We pretty much always have a bowl of
popcorn on date night or whenever we watch a movie. Popcorn is very low
in saturated fat, has no cholesterol, is very low in sodium (unless you
add salt), is very low in sugar, and is high in dietary fiber. All
goodness for an anytime snack.Fruits and vegetables make a great snack, because you lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables contain important nutrients like vitamins A and C and fiber. Fruit is naturally sweet, so most people love it. My honey loves fruit. Fruit can be served whole, sliced, cut in half, cubed, or in wedges. Canned, frozen, and dried fruits often need little preparation.
Vegetables are versatile, too. Veggies can be served raw with dip or salad dressing. Take a gander at the Fresh Vegetables with Dressing recipe below.
You might think that fruits and vegetables are pricey snacks, but they are actually less costly than many other less-healthful snacks on a per-serving basis.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of a serving of fruit or vegetable (all types – fresh, frozen, and canned) is 25 cents per serving. This is a good deal less compared with a 69-cent single-serve of potato chips or an 80-cent candy bar.
Try lots of different fruits and vegetables and prepare them in various ways to find out what bridges the gap between lunch and dinner.
Whole grains make great snacks, because they provide more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than refined grains. The secret is to keep the added sugars to less than 35% by weight and the saturated and trans fat low (i.e., less than 10% of calories, or about one gram or less per serving).
Dairy foods are a great source of calcium, which can help to maintain strong bones. However, dairy products also are the biggest sources of artery-clogging saturated fat so consider low-fat or fat-free counterparts.
Nuts are good, but high in calories. It is best to serve them along with another snack such as fruit. A small handful of nuts is a reasonable serving size. Examples include peanuts, pistachios, almonds, walnuts, cashews, or soy nuts. Look for nuts that are unsalted.
Trail mixes are easy to make and store well in a sealed container. Items to include: low-fat granola, whole grain cereals, peanuts, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and dried fruits like raisins, apricots, apples, pineapple, or cranberries.
Water should be the main drink served at snack times. Water satisfies thirst and does not have sugar or calories. (Plus, it is low-cost.)
Fruit Juice: Try to buy 100% fruit juice and avoid the added sugars of juice drinks, punches, fruit cocktail drinks, or lemonade. Drinks that contain at least 50% juice and no additional caloric sweeteners are also healthful options. Fruit juice can be rich in vitamins, minerals, and cancer-fighting compounds. However, most fruit juices are high in calories.