20 CHEAP HEALTHY SNACKS

 

Do you want to eat healthy, but struggle with time or money to make it feasible? Eating healthy can be easy, budget friendly and simple. There are a few ways to identify these snacks when grocery shopping.

1. See what's inside. The food label is a reliable tool to know what is in your food. Click HERE for a quick label reading refresher.

2. The fewer ingredients the better. Foods with just a handful of ingredients tend to be more wholesome than foods which contain many ingredients.

3. Steer clear of unhealthy fats. There is a clear line between healthy and unhealthy fats. Unhealthy fats are called "trans fat". They can be detected as "partially hydrogenated oils" on an ingredient list. Highly saturated fat products should also be avoided. These fats clog arteries and lead to chronic disease when consumed in abundance. 

4. Look for fiber and whole grains. Look for snacks made with whole grains rather than refined flours, and aim for at least a couple grams of fiber per serving.

Using these tips will help you make healthier choices next time you go to the grocery store. If your looking for a quick list to reference when shopping for snacks, here are 20 inexpensive snacks you can buy at any grocery store. 

1. Freeze dried fruits and vegetables like: apple chips, crispy carrots and strawberries.

2. Nuts, such as roasted peanuts, salted pecans, pistachios and roasted almonds.

3. Seeds, like roasted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.

4. Edamame, you can find this in the freezer section. 

5. No-sugar added dried fruit, try mango and pineapple.

6. Ice pops with little/no added sugar or artificial ingredients. 

7. Kale chips and other baked veggie chips.

8. Whole grain pretzels.

9. Pita chips.

10. Popcorn, light or no butter.

11. Low-sugar, whole grain cereals.

12. Crispy roasted chick peas. (try making these with  THIS recipe)

13. Single-serve cheese like string cheese.

14. Healthier chips, such as multi-grain and black bean tortilla chips.

15. Lower-sugar fruit yogurt.

16. Graham crackers, especially whole grain.

17. Lightly salted brown rice cakes.

18. Granola bars with relatively low added sugar (check the food label).

19. Whole-grain or nut/seed crackers. Think woven wheat (Triscuts) and thin wheat crackers.

20. Dark chocolate, the darker the better.

These are just a few to name. Keep your eyes out for more healthy, realistic snack choices next time you go shopping.