When I don’t have a snack between meals, I’m not just hungry, I feel faint. Yes, I’ve had a few fainting spells in the past, so I’ve learned to always carry around a snack to stave off hunger and make sure I keep standing tall. Generally, I eat a healthy pescatarian diet, so when it comes to snacking, I like my snacks to be similarly healthy, which, to me, means low calorie, low fat (unless it’s the good fat), high protein, and high fiber. Sometimes you can find a snack that has all four bases covered, but sometimes you can’t. As long the snack has one of the four, I feel pretty good about eating it.
While whole foods like bananas, apples, pears or carrots are your best options… sometimes those can get a little dull. Here are a few of my go-to healthy snacks you can try between meals to keep your tummy satisfied.
Top 5 Healthy Snacks
- Open-Faced PB&J Rice Cake – I never outgrew my love for good old PB&J, so I turn to this healthier option since it doesn’t use white bread which we all grew up eating. I like Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes and add a thin layer of peanut butter or sunflower butter and strawberry jam. Sometimes I’ll substitute sliced banana instead of the jam to give my body an extra boost before a workout.
- Cocochia, SuperGreens (Coconut, Chia Seeds and Probiotics) – this can be eaten straight out of the package with a spoon or sprinkled onto your oatmeal or greek yogurt. It’s higher in fat compared to some of the other snacks on this list, but just like the sunbutter listed above in #2, it’s the “good fat.” Plus, chia seeds are whole grains that are high in fiber and protein, making it a great source of sustained energy.
- Kale chips – when I don’t have time to make my own, I buy them at the store. One of my favorite brands: Brad’s Raw Kale Chips
- High Protein Frozen Yogurt, ProYo – I love frozen yogurt! When it’s warm outside, I like to grab a frozen yogurt tube… ProYo is high in protein and satisfies my sweet tooth. There are a few choices: chocolate, vanilla, banana vanilla, and blueberry pomegranate. I’ll be honest, I can only vouch for the vanilla flavor because it’s the only one I’ve tried 🙂
- Rice Crackers, Crunchmaster (I like the plain or cheesy ones) – these are great alternatives to chips… again, it makes those crunchy and salty cravings subside. I like to dip them in homemade lentil soup or hummus or even put thin slices of avocado and cucumber on top.
I should also mention that I always have a protein bar in my bag. Two of my favorite: Creamy Peanut Butter Think Thin bars or Quest Bars. Think Thin bars are higher in calories, but super tasty and filling (low sugar and 20gm of protein per bar). The Peanut Butter Quest Bars are lower in calories, higher in fiber, and also contain 20gm of protein per bar.
For the full list (with about 10 more options), you can go to my page on Blinked, an app that offers curated lists and recommendations from people like me. Enjoy and let me know which healthy snacks you love!
