Things You'll Need:
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Low-fat pretzels
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Step 1
Take inventory of your pantry, refrigerator and freezer to see what kinds of snacks you have on hand. If you have chips and crackers, look for healthy replacements that satisfy your cravings for salty and crunchy foods, such as low-fat pretzels. If you have cookies or candy, try fresh or dried fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth.
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Step 2
Make a decision to clear out the unhealthy snack choices in your kitchen. Decide to consume what is on hand over the following week and make a fresh start with healthy choices after your next shopping trip. You could also bring the remainder of your cookie stash to the office snack closet.
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Step 3
Ask your doctor for guidance in choosing healthy snacks. What’s healthy for one person may not be healthy for another. If you have weight management issues, your doctor may advise you to limit healthy snacks with a high fat content, like walnuts and almonds. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can give you some sodium guidelines to follow.
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Step 4
Wash and cut up fresh produce as soon as you get home from the grocery store. A produce drawer containing a bag of carrots and several zucchini is easily overlooked. However, when these same vegetables are cut into matchsticks and arranged on a plate beside some low-fat ranch dip, the chances of grabbing a quick vegetable snack increase.
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Step 5
Blend fresh fruit into a smoothie. If the thought of eating a whole banana does not appeal to you, perhaps a banana blended with some crushed ice, vanilla yogurt, and a cup of orange juice will excite your taste buds.
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Step 6
Read food labels carefully. A package of low fat cookies that provides 100 calories per serving will not be a healthy choice if a serving is two cookies but you normally eat six.
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Step 7
Get the whole family on board. If the kids’ chocolate cookies are undermining your determination to make healthier snack choices, serve them the same snacks you eat. Make a trail of raisins that leads to whole grain bread cut into star shapes with a miniature cookie cutter.
