10 Best Healthy Snack Ideas

Staying healthy and in shape requires a concerted effort in your daily life to maintain your lifestyle as a healthy individual.

Breaking your food intake up throughout the day is a great way to keep your metabolism going without burdening your digestive system with excess amounts of food and calories, and keeps you running at peak performance.

Here are some healthy snack ideas that will keep you going, and keep your body in shape as well.

1. Peanut butter: Peanut butter is quick and filling. Either just eat a spoonful, or spread on a piece of celery or eat with some apple slices. It is full of protein and is a quick fix for your food cravings. For great peanut butter, go to your local health food store and have some made fresh for you.
2. Raw nuts: Similar to peanut butter, raw nuts give you satisfaction as well as essential protein and fatty acids necessary to keep your body running at peak performance. Raw almonds are an excellent source of nutrition. Try to find organic nuts with little or no sodium for best results.
3. Berries: The health benefits of berries have been touted for the last several years. Infuse your daily diet with blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries and get healthy antioxidants in the process to help your body rid itself of harmful free radicals.
4. Organic Plain Yogurt: Plain yogurt is great for the digestive system and promotes good bacteria for eliminating waste in your body. Add berries or granola for extra fiber and nutrition.
5. Raw Vegetables: Cooked vegetables may taste great, but often lose their nutritional value in the steamer or frying pan, and add unneeded calories and sodium with oils and seasoning. Raw vegetables provide essential vitamins and nutrients, as well as fiber to your daily diet. Try celery, broccoli, or cauliflower as healthy snacks throughout the day.
6. Hard boiled eggs: Conveniently wrapped in its own natural package, hard boiled eggs provide the benefits of eating eggs in the morning without excess sodium and fat. Get an extra bit of protein and eat an egg quickly on the go.
7. Fresh fruits: Without tipping the sugar balance, add a Fuji apple or other fresh fruit to your daily intake. Apples provide an excellent source of fiber and are quite satisfying. Remember the old saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away?” They said this for good reason.
8. Low Sodium Vegetable Juice: Replace one of your vegetable or fruit servings with a quick drink of vegetable juice. It is a quick and easy way to ingest the powerful antioxidant powers of fresh fruits and vegetables, with little or no preparation. Take a can with you in the morning and drink it down when you need a snack on the go.
9. Protein Drinks: There are many excellent protein and meal-replacement drinks on the market that are not just for fad dieters. Take a look at what the drink has to offer, and see if it fits your needs. Sometimes we simply don’t have enough time to eat; these are the times when you need to infuse your diet with a protein drink in order to maintain your schedule and caloric intake.
10. Energy Bars: Similar to protein drinks, energy bars are generally high in protein and are condensed versions of what you need to keep your body fueled. Many organic options are available on the market and are relatively reasonable items to add to your daily diet. Most are quite filling and help you resist the temptation of going out to satisfy an unhealthy craving.

This article is contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who regularly writes on online nursing programs. She invites your questions at her personal email address: kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com.

Have any other healthy snack ideas to add to the list? What are your favorites (doritos and twinkies not allowed!)?

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