Balanced Snacks

Carbs, Proteins, & Fats — Oh My!

Try to Choose:

• Whole grains and whole-grain flours instead of white, refined flours
• Less processed foods (i.e. foods that look more like their natural state)
• Foods you actually enjoy (what a concept!)

Ideas for Snacks and Small Meals:

• String cheese and a piece of fruit
• Peanut or almond butter on an apple, banana, or whole-grain crackers (we like original Triscuits because they only have three ingredients!)
• Veggie sticks (carrot, celery, bell peppers, cucumber, jicama, sugar snap peas) with hummus
• Small handful of unsalted nuts or seeds and a small handful of dried fruit (or go all out at the bulk bins in your grocery store and make your own trail mix with nuts, seeds, a small amount of dried fruit, a dash of dark chocolate chips, and coconut flakes- yum!)
• Whole grain toast topped with turkey breast and avocado
• A hard-boiled egg and some sliced fruit/veggies (apple, carrot, celery, peppers)
• Crackers with hummus and cucumber slices
• Cottage cheese with pineapple or pear chunks (canned in fruit juice if using canned)
• Half of a peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole-grain bread
• Whole grain toast topped with spinach and a poached egg (or hardboiled)

• These Peanut Butter Oat Bites

If you need to buy bars for easy on-the-go snacking, look for one with 3 – 5 grams of fiber, at least 8 grams of protein, less than 10 grams sugar, and less than 8 grams of fat (no more than 1 gram saturated).