Shopping Cart Items in Cart
0

Healthy Alternatives To Unhealthy Snacks

Posted by Dan Cromar on 3/18/2015

Humans are animals, and in the modern context, our natural gift for seeking out nutrients has been folded in upon itself.

The snacking behaviors we see in ourselves aren’t bad, but when it comes to healthy living, we may want to reexamine what we’re selecting.

Companies spend millions of dollars each year to determine the most tempting combination of flavors and textures that will make their products appealing. It has long been noted that we seek out fat, salt, and sugar—those things being relatively scarce in the natural environment.

But another interesting aspect of taste science when applied to human appetites is that crunchy foods, crispy and snappy treats, are the most psychologically satisfying ones.

How can we apply this to a healthier array of snacking choices? Let’s examine our options.

Veggies Instead

While carrots and celery won’t leave you with that characteristic oily residue that often results from forays into the potato chip bag, they also won’t contribute to negative health practices.

Often what we’re seeking when we head for the pantry is a satisfying crunch—flavor is incidental. If you want to spice things up a bit, a great substitute for creamy, chemical-laced dip is hummus.

Made from ground chickpeas and sesame oil, this ancient foodstuff now comes in a variety of flavors. It’s full of vitamin E, almost completely fat free, and adds a delicious contrast to those veggies.

Try broccoli florets, slices of bell peppers, and even cherry tomatoes if you’re in the mood for adventure.

Traditional Popcorn

As a replacement for a variety of crunchy but unhealthy snack foods, go for popcorn.

Invest in an air-popper or a more traditional model of popcorn popper when you make this transition. Microwave popcorn contains any number of rather unsavory ingredients and is a decided convenience food in terms of cost.

Making it yourself will allow you to customize your serving size, save money, and control what ingredients you consume.

Sweet Treats

Our palates are narcotized by the unnaturally high level of sweetness in our modern foods. In fact, too much refined sugar acts on the brain like a drug.

While it can be difficult at first, going off of refined sugar—as well as artificial sweeteners—will actually allow you to taste the natural sweetness in your food, which is an unexpectedly awesome experience.

Cookies, cakes, and confections have become accepted snack foods. We often consume them while watching television or surfing the Internet, without actually consciously tasting them.

Apples with crunchy natural peanut butter—which should contain nothing but peanuts and a little salt—are a fantastic and incredibly satisfying snack. The natural sugars in the apple are balanced by the soluble and insoluble fibers and vitamins the fruit contains; fresh apple slices are also delightfully crunchy.

The crunchy yet creamy texture of the peanuts provides healthy fats that satisfy any hunger signals your brain is processing (if you have a peanut allergy, substitute a nut butter of your choice).

If you’re craving another sweet finger food, try peeling a few clementines—baby mandarin oranges or tangerines—and have the diminutive segments at hand for your evening television time. They are tart, sweet, incredibly healthy, and satisfying.

These are just a few examples of how you can substitute nutrient-dense, healthy foods for the empty and unhealthy snack foods to which we’ve become culturally accustomed.

Even if you still sometimes indulge in junk foods, if you elect to go fresh and healthy nine times out of ten, you’re going to see a better level of overall health, alertness, and increased feelings of well-being.


 Lives Saved By AEDs
 Frequently Asked Questions
 AED Laws + Codes
 The Importance of AEDs
 AED News

 St. Patty's Day: Alcohol And The Heart
 5 Heart Health Myths That Are Just That
 The Five Most Important Places To Have AEDs
 The Effects Of Yoga On Heart Health
 How To Get Your Health Back on Track After the Holidays

 March 2016
 February 2016
 January 2016
 December 2015
 November 2015
 October 2015
 September 2015
 August 2015
 July 2015
 June 2015
 May 2015
 April 2015
 March 2015
 February 2015
 January 2015
 December 2014
 November 2014
 October 2014
 September 2014
 August 2014
 July 2014
 June 2014
 May 2014
 April 2014
 March 2014
 February 2014
 January 2014
 December 2013
 November 2013
 October 2013
 September 2013
 February 2012
 February 2011
 December 2010
 November 2010
 October 2010
aed coupon

google_plus_iconyoutube icon
free shipping


aed guarantee and warranty

aed purchase order

AED price quote
FDA Approved AEDs

Mailing List