Lifestyle & Diet
Nutrition is not rocket science, but food and dietary concerns consume a lot of time and energy and constitute a huge portion of popular attention in today's world. Parents are concerned about their children, while they and other adults worry about their own health; many also face additional agony over the well-being of aging parents.
Eating properly can be difficult for anyone who must follow a specific diet plan, whether it's prompted by a disease, a chronic medical condition or a desire for weight loss. One thing is certain: snacking is not only an American pastime but also an ongoing concern. Luckily, experts acknowledge that eating appropriate snacks throughout the day is actually beneficial to our health.
A study published to The Journal of Nutrition in 2010 noted that "97 percent of Americans" get as much as one-quarter of their daily calories from snacks (Bruso, n.d.). As such, we think it's essential that those snacks be healthy and beneficial rather than simply adding "bulk" to the diet. The question is: Is that even possible?
We believe it is.
Choose Wisely
Keeping these guidelines from the National Institutes of Health (2002) in mind can make for lasting wellness, whether you prepare foods for special diets or buy premade snacks.
- Choose foods low in saturated fat, and keep total fat content as low as possible.
- Fiber is good; and, certain starches are not only necessary but also beneficial for the satiety they supply.
- Eat more plant foods.
- Keep moving and stay active; exercise your mind as much as your body (Healthcommunities.com, 2014)
- Find a healthy weight, and work to maintain it.
Learn What Works
Healthy people have learned what works for them. If you are not as fit or as healthy as you would like to be, take a closer look at your diet and make better choices. You have to find a balance between consumption and exertion. If you have specific dietary needs, be diligent about controlling your snacking habits.
Expand Your Repertoire
Pleasing a vegan and a meat-lover at the same time can be difficult, just as melding the needs of a paleo practitioner with those of mediterranean dieter may prove challenging. You can, however, select snack foods that will please everyone. Healthy snack foods are satisfying, tasty, easy to serve and usually simple. They fill an important gap during the work day, are great to count on at school or sports events, counteract "sinking feelings" throughout a busy day, and are terrific for traveling.
For specific advice for your particular preferences or dietary restrictions, take a look at the list of resources below. We are always expanding our repository of information, recipes, and snack suggestions to supply the support you need to stick with any diet, so be sure to visit again soon to find more great tips for healthy living.
Healthy Recipes
We have recipes to fit any need. See a small sample of our expansive selection for the different diets and snacks you need below:
No-Bake Pistachio Cookies Recipe {gluten-free, vegan}
Ideal for diabetics or those in search of a low-GI, low-sugar sweet, these delectable desserts offer a saccharine flavor you’re sure to love!
Ingredients: Pistachios, unsweetened shredded coconut, gluten-free rolled oats, maple syrup, moringa powder, water, vanilla extract, cashews, almond butter, vanilla, coconut oil.
Total Time: 20 minutes
| Yield: 16 cookies
No-Bake Cheesecake Bites Recipe {gluten-free}
Another sweet that is surprisingly accommodating, these delicious delights supply a scrumptious low-carb dessert or snack, offering only 6% of the DV for carbs in each serving-. And the dessert is completely paleo!
Ingredients: Pitted dates, almond flour, cacao powder, vanilla extract, almond milk, raw cashews, maple syrup, canned pumpkin, pumpkin spice.
Total Time: 20 minutes
| Yield: 16 - 20 squares
