Healthy Snacks and Finger Foods

If you get hungry frequently or just enjoy munching on something while you are busy, it is all too easy to fall into the trap that millions of Americans do: eating what is handy without worrying if it is healthy. Even if you have every intention of sticking to a healthy diet, if you aren't prepared during those moments where you feel the need to snack, your healthy plan can be ruined.

This is what my family did while I was growing up. We knew we would get hungry in the interim between lunch and dinner, so we made ourselves healthy snacks for the afternoon after school. These snacks were balanced, consisting of a few carrot sticks, a healthy piece of chicken or turkey, some sort of whole grain cracker or bread, and some nuts. If you plan a healthy snack for yourself, then when that temptation is gnawing at you, you can remind yourself that a healthy snack is coming.

Of course, some people live hectic lives and cannot always plan time to sit down for a healthy snack. It's also a good idea to have certain snacks with you that will tide you over when your stomach is growling but the next official meal is hours away. Here are some healthy foods that can fill you up and stave off cravings:

1. Nuts
Nuts are a smart, healthy solution. They're all-natural and taste great. They are portable and don't require refrigeration. The best reason to snack on nuts is that they contain healthy fats, which take longer to break down in your body so you don't have a rush of insulin followed by a crash. If you're used to a rollercoaster of blood sugar, nuts can help stop a bad cycle and curb cravings.

2. Fruit
Real fruit is automatically a healthy snack option. By real, I mean fruit that hasn't been processed or canned. Go for fresh cherries, strawberries or other delicious berries, perhaps accompanied by a light whipped cream. Try some sliced apples or oranges, which are sweet snacks and easy to take anywhere. Consider seedless grapes, which are just as easy to pop in your mouth as small candy but are healthy. Easiest of all, grab a banana that you can peel and snack on when you get hungry.

3. Veggies
If you're interested in healthy snacks that give you a satisfying crunch, look no further than some of the healthiest vegetables available. These include carrot sticks, chopped celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and yes, even organic potato chips. As long as you limit the number of chips you eat and try to get kinds without a lot of salt or any hydrogenated oils, they are actually just scrumptious crunchy potatoes. Don't make all of your snacks potato chips, but don't consistently deny yourself snacks like them either, or you will start to feel deprived. You can also snack on healthy vegetable chips such as Terra's, which include exotic flavors like sweet potato.

4. Healthy Crackers and Healthy Dips
I would recommend crackers from such organic brands as Nature's Path, Health Valley, and more. The difference between these and standard crackers like Ritz and Cheez-Its is the lack of additives, excessive sodium, and hydrogenated vegetable oils. You can snack on these crackers without a guilty conscience. For variety, you can consider healthy dips and spreads made from cheese or spinach. If you don't use too much, a dip can be a nice flavor enhancer that doesn't undermine your reasons for snacking on healthy, organic crackers.

5. Trail Mix
A good way to get a nice combination of healthy snacks is to make a trail mix. Tasty trail mixes often include some combination of whole wheat Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, dried fruit, granola, Cheerios, and mini-chocolate chips. It's okay to eat chocolate for a treat; just be sure to eat it only on occasion. Once you've made a trail mix, you should store it in an airtight container or baggy. It's easy to munch on and all its ingredients are healthy snacks.

6. Meat
It's difficult to have access to a convenient source of meat that's not full of preservatives and salt, but meat is important to keep a stable blood sugar level and provide you with enough protein. If you don't have access to a fridge, consider getting some jerky. It's certainly not the best option, but it can be a good way to have a meat snack without resorting to fast food. If you have access to a fridge, buying chicken tenderloins or turkey breast is ideal, but often impractical. Admittedly, meat is harder to use in snacks unless you are at home, but if you find yourself getting hungry between meals, there isn't a substitute for it.

These healthy foods and snacks are meant to tide you over until your next big meal. It isn't healthy to eat just these light foods all day, because they mostly provide you with carbohydrate, and not a lot of healthy fat or protein (with the exception of nuts and meat). Always consider your body's needs. At the end of the day, either your body got what it needed to function or it didn't. Supplement your diet with these healthy snacks to keep from straying from a healthy diet. I hope you find these ideas useful and wish you luck on your continuing journey towards healthy eating.