10 Health Friednly Snacks for a better YOU !!

Sometimes you simply get too busy to prepare and eat a healthy meal.

Having some healthy snacks on hand can be useful when such kind of situations arises.

Here are 10 health friendly snacks to add to your diet which will provide you sound health.

1. Nuts....(No I'm not calling you a nut...)

Nuts are an ideal nutritious snack that have been associated with  a reduced risk of heart disease and may help prevent certain cancers, depression and other diseases.Despite being relatively high in fat, they are very filling. Several studies suggest that eating nuts in moderation can help you lose weight.

They contain the perfect balance of healthy fat, protein and fibre and also tastes great and don’t require refrigeration, so they’re perfect for carrying with you wherever you go !

2. Yogurt with mixed  berries

Both of it , makes a delicious and nutrient dense snack. Yogurt is a great source of calcium and potassium and also provides first class proteins.

When it comes to berries, best source of antioxidants. Combine both of it and you get an excellent  protein rich ,low calorie delicious snack on the go !!









 

3. Apple slices with peanut butter

Do not think that eating butter is always fattening...YES !!

 You can now have butter (of course in right combination and quantity).

Apples are high in fiber and polyphenol antioxidants that improve gut health and reduce heart disease risk while peanut butter may have additional benefits for heart health. It has been shown to increase HDL cholesterol and reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.Peanut butter though high in calories have to consumed in moderation.

 

1 apple along with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter provides less than 150 calories.

 

4. Pann...eeerrrr with flaxseeds and cinnamon

Cottage cheese, flaxseeds and cinnamon each provide their own  health benefits. Together, they’re a super-healthy snack.

Cottage cheese is a high-protein food that is very filling, and full-fat varieties contain conjugated linoleic acid, which may help reduce body fat.

Flaxseeds are beneficial for weight loss, blood sugar control and may also reduce breast cancer risk.

Cinnamon helps lower blood sugar and may improve gut health.

Here’s an easy recipe that combines all three ingredients to provide about 15 grams of protein with less than 150 calories:

Cinnamon Flaxseed Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cottage cheese-paneer
• 1 tablespoon flaxseeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Stevia, if desired.

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.

 5.Kale chips   

Do you know Kale...Sounds like an American name for a lady...

BUT. This kale is incredibly  healthy loaded with fibre and antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol. It helps decrease blood pressure and may reduce the risk of colon cancer.

A 1-cup serving of raw kale provides more than 100% of the RDI for vitamins A, C and K.

Find below an easy recipe for kale chips provides about 150 calories:

Kale Chips

Ingredients:

• 1 cup bite-sized kale leaves.

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Place kale pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350° F (175° C) for 10–15 minutes.

 6.Hard boiled eggs

One of the healthiest and most weight loss-friendly foods you can eat.They contain protein, vitamin K2 and B12, to name a few.

 
 
 
Eggs are incredibly filling and may reduce the amount of calories you eat for many hours, which should help you lose weight.

Although their high cholesterol content gave them a bad reputation for years, new studies show that eggs don’t have any effect on your risk of heart disease.

Two large, hard-boiled eggs contain about 140 calories and 13 grams of protein.

 

 

7. Edamame

Edamame is a dish of steamed unripened soybeans.

It is rich in the antioxidant kaempferol, which has been shown to cause weight loss and lower blood sugar in animal studies.

It is also high in folate and several minerals, including iron, magnesium and manganese.1cup of edamame has around 17 grams of protein and 180 calories.

8. Avocados

Pronounced as Avo-cados ,amongst  the most nutritious and satisfying foods on the planet.

Studies show that they can help lower LDL cholesteroland improve symptoms of arthritis and protect skin from sun damage, among other benefits.

What’s more, avocados are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium and monounsaturated fat.

Sprinkle half a medium avocado with salt and a dash of cayenne pepper for a savory, filling snack with around 130 calories.

9. Sun Dried Tomatoes

Sun-dried tomatoes contain more lycopene than regular tomatoes.

What’s more, they are usually packed in olive oil, which helps your body absorb more of the lycopene.100 grams serving of sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil provides 170% of the RDI for vitamin C and contains a little more than 200 calories.

 

10. A slice or piece of cheese

 

Cheese is a delicious food that’s filling enough to be a snack on its own.

Although cheese is high in saturated fat, new studies show that saturated fat doesn’t raise your risk of heart disease. Additionally, studies have shown that up to 2 servings of cheese per day don’t raise LDL cholesterol levels, even in people with elevated cholesterol.Doesn't mean over here that you keep gorging on  cheese continuously...or chesse pizzas...!!

60 grams serving of cheese contains about 14 grams of protein and 200 calories.

Take home Message

Sometimes you just really need a snack.

Having some healthy and nutritious options close by can help you avoid unhealthy and fattening alternatives.