Many people see snacks as something store bought and individually wrapped. While this is very common, and is definitely the easiest for people with hectic schedules, it is unlikely that it is healthy. When buying snack food from a store, check out the nutrition values at the back of the wrapper. Many of the chip, cookie, and candy companies are responding to the publics crave for healthier food and a healthier lifestyle. It also isn't just about what is inside the wrapper, sometimes they advertise that their wrapping is bio-degradable and good for the environment.
Look for snacks that are low in fat, minimal carbohydrates, have no trans fat, have very little sodium or none at all. Some companies are advertising oven baked chips and organic chips. These are better options than your traditional potato chips. Same for cookie companies. Look into what these snack food companies have to offer and you can make a healthier decision.
Cookie
To be very correct about the topic though, a healthy snack is anything that is nutritious and matches a recommended daily serving of any of the five major food groups for as long as it isn't an extra serving of grains, meat, and dairy. You and your children can always have an extra serving of fruit and vegetables, and if you lead a very active lifestyle, you can have an extra serving of grains, meat, and dairy, but assuming that you fall into the norm of society, snacks should address what you don't get from your regular meals.
If you or your child ate two or three cups of fruit for breakfast and went two rounds at the salad bar for lunch, it is okay to snack on a sandwich of cold cuts and cheese in the afternoon! By this time of the day, both of your bodies will be needing the grains and protein in order to keep your system running well. While this diet is rather unconventional, it can happen. Denying yourself of the grains and protein your body craves and needs is just as bad as not eating fruit and vegetables. In this scenario, the sandwich is a healthy snack because it is supplying your body with what it lacks.
So what's a healthy snack? It's whatever fits into your recommended daily serving of whatever of the five food groups. Really. There are no hard and fast rules to what you can eat, just conventional ones. So the next time you're considering a snack or you're preparing a snack for your children and you want it to be healthy, think about what you've eaten earlier in the day and what you might be eating for dinner. After some quick math, you'll be able to make an educated and nutritious choice. Following this system, no food is banned from being snack food. Now doesn't that sound great?
What's a Healthy Snack?
Want to keep snacking? Make your own snacks at home! Check out Healthy Snack Recipes and discover great snack recipes, as well as other healthy recipes both children and adults will enjoy!
