Snacking is hot! With today’s busy lifestyles, enjoying smaller quantities and eating more frequently is right on trend. If you’re a savvy snacker smaller portions can provide healthy nutrients to your diet without packing on extra calories.
A recent consumer survey by Fiber One® Bars found this compelling piece of info:65% of consumers wish they had stashed a snack in their bags when hunger pangs hit.
51% of Americans would most likely eat chips or crackers while 36% would likely eat a candy bar to fight off hunger pangs when healthy snacks were not readily available.
The key to sensible snacking is to make the right choices. Just a few nutritious, on-the-go snacks tossed into your handbag, backpack, computer bag or desk drawer will help you stay stoked.
Here are 10 simple snack ideas for people on-the-go:
1. Think ahead. Waiting until you're hungry and on the doorstep of the nearest convenience store can be a snack trap. Instead, keep delicious new Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chocolate Fudge Brownies in your bag and enjoy before you're famished. These bars provide 20% daily value of fiber and 100% great taste right at your finger tips.
2. Just chill. Slice vegetables and refrigerate. On your way out the door, grab a handful of celery and carrot sticks, radishes, cucumber rounds, snap pea pods, green pepper strips, or other veggies. Toss into a resealable bag and, for extra flavor, add a splash of low-fat dressing to the mix.
3. Fix a fruit. Nature's perfect on-the-go snack-whole fruits, like bananas, oranges, and apples, are easy to carry and ready to eat! For variety, pick fruits in season—pears, peaches, blueberries, or strawberries...what a treat!
4. Pack a protein punch. When you need a pick-me-up, grab a handful of nuts or seeds. Nuts and seeds such as peanuts, soy or sunflower nuts, almonds and walnuts provide protein. They also contain healthier unsaturated fats and nutrients like fiber and vitamin E.
5. Calcium counts. Low-fat string cheese, individually wrapped for easy snacking and cheese slices or chunks give you a calcium boost. A carton of fat-free yogurt also provides protein and calcium. Just keep them cool and fresh in an insulated lunch bag.
6. How about a combo? Combine the fiber in a fresh apple with the protein of peanut butter. Cut an apple in half, core it, fill the middle with peanut or another nut butter, and pack it to-go.
7. Cereal sprinkles. Jazz up your yogurt by mixing in whole-grain, calcium-boosting cereals.
8. Keep your cool. Packing a sandwich of turkey or chicken breast on whole-grain bread in an insulated lunch bag or small cold pack will keep it fresh longer. Pack salad components separately and place on sandwich just before eating...no soggies!
9. Add crunch. Pick your favorite whole-grain cereal and use it to make a DIY snack mix. Add pretzels, nuts and raisins, too. Other good crunchy snacks are whole-grain tortilla chips and salsa, and whole-grain popcorn—skip the butter, of course.
10. Rely on dried fruit. So easy to pack, dried fruit is an alternative to fresh and is a great mixer with any cereal, low-fat popcorn, pretzels, nuts or seeds. Go for different colors to keep it fun and interesting.