Healthy Snacks

Dieting and exercise have been a major trend for the last three decades although past years have focused on fast weight loss through diet pills and crash diets. However, over the last ten years, more and more people have began to understand that losing weight starts with a balanced diet of healthy snacks, which includes all food groups along with a regular exercise regiment. Fewer people are eliminating whole categories from their diets and focusing on eating the right foods for fat loss. Eating healthy snacks can be one of the most rewarding ways to lose weight while still being able to enjoy a large variety of foods.

Fruits are Nutrient-Packed Snacks for Weight Loss

Fruits are one of the few foods that provide one with a number of vitamins and minerals while tasting absolutely delicious at the same time. However, fruits should always be fresh or at the least frozen. Canned fruits are considered processed foods and may contain an excessive amount of preservatives, syrups, extra sugars, and other ingredients that create high calorie content that can offset the benefits of the fruit itself. Fresh fruits also have the advantage to be bagged and taken as a quick snack. For instance, oranges are healthy snacks for burning fat and can be cut days in advance and stored in a plastic baggy in the refrigerator. Apples, bananas and some other soft fruits may also be bagged although they should be sliced as close to time of eating as possible because of their tendency to darken. Fruits are a great addition to both hot and cold cereals as well and can make breakfast more filling. A quarter cup of strawberries or blueberries make a great addition to practically any breakfast cereal or even a bowl of oatmeal and are definitely healthy snacks for weight loss.

Oh Nuts! Another Great Snack for Burning Fat

Good snacks for losing weight include a variety of foods that contain protein of which nuts are a viable source. There are many nuts that are available in the local grocery store such as peanuts, pecans, cashews, Macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, and many more. Nuts are perfect snacks for fat loss that are very convenient. For instance, before going to the gym, many people may eat a handful of peanuts for an added protein kick to help them through their workout. Even peanut butter is relatively healthy although too much peanut butter can lead to excess calories that take away from its benefits. One thing to remember about buying nuts is the sodium content. Excess sodium can lead to a number of health problems and contribute to weight gain in some cases. Nuts that are dry roasted with no salt are the best healthy snacks for weight loss although now many companies have low salt or “lightly salted” available as well. Nuts can be easily measured for the proper serving size and can be bagged up to carry in pocket books and lunch boxes for that quick snack that packs a punch.

For Healthy Snacking To Lose Weight, Include Vegetables

Most everyone has been told at some point in his or her life to eat all of their vegetables. This rings true for practically every lifestyle, and vegetables are very healthy snacks for weight loss. Some vegetables, like broccoli and celery, even contribute to weight loss while being eaten. It has been said that these two vegetables require more calories to chew and digest than they produce within the body. However, like fruits, vegetables should be fresh or at least frozen. Fresh vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, celery, and even sliced peppers are very convenient healthy snacks for weight loss although sometimes people may make mistakes when eating them. Many people eat dressings on their vegetables. Many of these dressings, particularly store-bought creamy dressings, have large amounts of fat, calories, high fructose corn syrup, and other chemicals that are very undesirable for a proper diet. Fresh vegetables are best eaten without creamy dressings and most can be pre-cut and bagged for an easy snack on the go. Makes these foods one of many go to healthy snacks for weight loss.

Yogurt and Cheeses

It is a common misconception that all cheeses are dairy products loaded with fats, which make them unhealthy. However, that is not necessarily the case, and they can actually be great snacks for your fat loss that are quite tasty. Cheeses such as ricotta, cottage, and yogurt all contain healthy saturated fats that are necessary for proper metabolic function. There are many varieties of yogurt to choose from that are healthy snacks for weight loss such as regular yogurt, strawberry, blueberry, and other flavored yogurt. Yogurt can also be combined with strawberries, blueberries, or bananas to make smoothies, which are especially healthy snacks for weight loss that provide essential vitamins and nutrients that also promote health and healing. Cottage or ricotta cheese is a great addition to any salad and can even replace unhealthy store-bought salad dressings.

A Time for Tea

Instead of potato chips on the couch, many people are beginning to enjoy teas for healthy snacks for weight loss, especially as a midday snack. There are many teas that are considered healthy snacks for weight loss such as oolong, green, and white teas. These teas can be an excellent snack during their morning or afternoon break. Green and white teas are an excellent source of antioxidants, which contributes to optimal blood flow and a reduction in stress. Stress causes the body to store carbohydrates and proteins, which lead to the build up of fats in the body. Tea is excellent for burning fat and provides the body energy and cardiac benefits as well.

Spice Up Your Snack Life

While most people hail the benefits of healthy snacks for weight loss, many people don’t know that there are spices that may add zest to their healthy snacks for weight loss as well. For instance, cinnamon is a spice enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people across the world. Cinnamon can be a great addition to fresh fruit in a bowl of cereal. However, cinnamon can be a healthy snack for weight loss as well because it acts as a metabolic stimulant within the body. This spice makes other healthy snacks for weight loss even better. Make healthy snacks for weight loss a little bit tastier with the addition of one of the many metabolic spices available at the local grocery store.

Conclusion

With so many healthy snacks for weight loss to choose from, one can enjoy a variety of foods without sacrificing one particular group over another. While some healthy snacks for weight loss may be simply low in fats, such as yogurt and cheeses, some foods may directly benefit other total health as well such as the antioxidants in teas. By creating a balanced meal plan along with healthy snacks for weight loss, people can enjoy a healthy lifestyle that contributes to a longer life.