5 Unhealthy Snacks and Their Healthy Replacements
Introduction
Snacks make up about 10% of the American diet, even more for some. In a 2020 survey, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) found that 40% of participants ate snacks instead of meals, and 25% said they consumed two or more snacks throughout the day.
Sadly, many of the most popular snacks are high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. That means the snacks you choose could hurt your efforts to lose weight or eat clean and live a healthy lifestyle.
5 Unhealthy Snacks and Their Healthy Replacements
You must change your diet to practice clean eating and live a healthy lifestyle. Your snacking habit is one aspect of your diet that you should change. It can quickly go unnoticed since sometimes you do it unconsciously.
Here are five common unhealthy snacks and what you can eat instead to make your diet clean and live healthily:
Candy
Overeating candy is terrible for your blood and teeth. Too much sugar in your diet can also raise your blood pressure and, over time, make you more likely to get type 2 diabetes.
Fruits can be a tasty, easy, and healthy alternative to candy. As an alternative to candy, try some grapes or frozen strawberries.
Chips
Even though chips are cheap and easy to grab, there are better options for your health. Also, it’s important to know that research shows that eating chips makes you more likely to get fat. An ounce of a typical potato chip adds 10 grams of fat to your diet and has no other nutritional value.
You could also eat air-popped popcorn, nuts, or roasted chickpeas instead of chips.
Fatty Dips or Cheese Dip
Skip the fatty dips and go for fresh salsa and homemade hummus instead. These options contain vitamins and healthy fats that won’t make you feel sluggish or tired.
Pudding
Puddings made with dairy can add calories and fat quickly, hurting your heart health and making you gain more weight. You must reduce or replace it entirely to practice healthy living.
Chia pudding, oatmeal, cream of wheat, or avocado mixed with cocoa powder and honey are tasty and healthy alternatives to pudding. These foods have nutrients that are good for your overall health and can also help your digestion.
Cookies
Cookies are small and easy to overeat, which can affect your weight. Just blend a few dates and almonds soaked in water together and roll them into balls. Roll them in toasted coconut or more nuts and enjoy a sweet, healthy alternative to cookies.
Conclusion
Overall, finding healthy snack alternatives is easy as long as you are willing to take the time to learn and experiment. For example, start with just one of your favorite snacks, and when you get used to that one, move on to a different unhealthy snack.
In other words, you don’t need to do a 180-degree shift. But if you know what you’re doing and what you’re putting in your body, you’ll be healthier. Your health will be even better based on what research says is best.
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