10 Healthy Snack Options

February is national snack food month, paying tribute to perhaps to the 2005 statistic of over $61 billion in snack food sales. Candy is the third highest food sold, behind carbonated drinks and milk. According to the Food Association website salty snacks at 4^th and cookies at 7^th underscore the love of snacks.

The Snack Food Association promotes and tracks snack sales. By 2002 candy had a $19.9 billion retail sales mark while salty snacks lodging another $8 billion. Sweet snacks dominate with $18.1 billion 2005 sales, about 58% of the market.

There are many snack options that can help the budget and health. Here are ten options for snacks that are another option for exchanging without eliminating snacks from our diet.

Popcorn is one option that can take on both sweet and salty options. Add pepper, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning and dry mustard and coat popcorn in a zip type bag. Add a half cup hickory smoked almonds or honey drizzled over the cooked popcorn. Forty years ago my mom sprinkled cinnamon sugar over popcorn for a sweet treat. Experiment!

Lightly buttered popcorn contains about 133 calories per cup; air popped has just 31 calories per cup. Popcorn adds fiber to your diet and three cups equals a grain group serving. It can be flavored a variety of ways. Make Cinnamon popcorn crunch or caramel almond popcorn clusters, with easy recipes at the highlighted site.

Honey offers a sweet but healthy option to honey caramel sauce over ice cream or homemade granola. Oatmeal cookie snacks are another option. Honey butter over a homemade biscuit is another treat.

Dried chips are another option that can be made at home. Slice up and dry apples, zucchini and other items for homemade chips for snacking. Your dehydrator can also be used for drying fruit leathers, popular with children and adults alike.

Brownies with a twist are healthy and earned the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

Sweet breads - such as honey nut bread or cinnamon bread - are healthy and a way to sack with less guilt.

Muffins can be made a wide variety of ways and amended to personal tastes for snacks. Toast can also be made a variety of ways. Bagels with peanut butter or cream cheese are another option.

Don't overlook homemade pizza bagels, sunflower seeds and roasted pumpkin seeds. The possibilities for healthier snacking is extensive and limited only by your willingness to search and find it!