Munchies. Healthy ones of course.

So its the afternoon, and you have just gotten off of a long day of work or school. What is the first thing you do? Go straight to the kitchen of course. Yes, I am guilty of this too. But, that is okay! I am going to give you ideas of some of my favorite healthy and nutritious snacks under 200 calories that will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal.

Snacking is inevitable. BUT, it isn't always a bad thing, as long as you make sure to choose healthy choices :) Studies have shown that eating little and often (5 or 6 times a day, 200 calories per meal) can actually be healthier than eating three big meals throughout the day. 

Why is this? 

• Boosting of metabolism: With this alternative eating schedule your digestive system is continually called upon to break down smaller quantities of food. As the duration between meals is reduced, your body is continually working to supply a steady energy flow.
• Maintenance of balanced blood sugar levels: When eating a large meal, there tends to be a large spike in your blood sugar levels which then decreases over a period of time. Eating little and often eliminates this spike and maintains a steady, constant level.
• Enhanced ability at reducing hunger: If you consider the six meals a day schedule you will notice that you never go longer than 2-3 hours without food. This creates a situation where you will rarely, if ever, get hunger pains as there is simply not enough time.

 Here is a website if you want to read more into the benefits of eating little and often:

http://www.fitnessbeans.com/2011/the-benefits-of-eating-little-often/ 



SO, now that I know why its okay to snack, what are some healthy snacks for me to eat? 

1. CELERY AND PEANUT BUTTER 

Celery is actually negative calories and is one of the best vegetables to eat because it is water-based. Pairing it with an organic unsalted peanut butter or almond butter can be a great snack with 2 tbsp 190 calories!

2. APPLE AND ALMOND BUTTER 

I just had this as a snack and it was delicious! If you make sure to limit the portion of the almond butter to less than 2 tablespoons it is also less than 200 calories and a perfect combination of a carb with a protein to keep you full and give you long lasting energy. 
I recommend trader joe's unsalted almond butter :) 

3. BABY CARROTS/MINI PEPPERS AND HUMMUS

This is one of my all time favorites!! I have just found this white bean and basil hummus at trader joe's that is to DIE FOR! 
The mini peppers and carrots are such a good thing to munch and crunch on also and have so many more vitamins and minerals than a cracker or a pita chip. 

4.GREEK YOGURT WITH BERRIES (AND AGAVE NECTAR)

Also an option for breakfast, I love a couple spoonfuls of 0% non-fat greek yogurt with some kind of berry and sometimes some agave nectar to sweeten. It is not only delicious, but it contains an excellent source of protein, fruit, and a healthy sweetener.

*subsitute agave nectar for honey or syrup in any recipe for a much healthier natural option. 

5.  AIR-POPPED POPCORN WITH SEA SALT 

Another one of my absolute favorites! A very low calorie snack filled with the fiber that we need and not a lot of additives. Skip the movie theater popcorn that can be a whopping 500+calories!! Instead, buy popcorn kernels (as shown above) from the grocery store and add some oil to a pot and the kernels and turn the stove on. Even if you add a little bit of butter to the stovetop popcorn, it will be better than the excessive amount of sodium and fat on movie theater popcorn. 

This is the popcorn maker I found at the store for only $20.00!! best purchase ever. 

Or... 

6. A HANDFUL OF RAW UNSALTED ALMONDS

 Be sure to keep the portion small because of the high fat content in almonds.

7. AVOCADO OR TOMATO SLICES 

Avocados are a very healthy source of fat that your body needs and are really good paired with tomatoes!

There are many other healthy options for small snacks throughout the day, but here are some ideas for you all :) 

Also, you can experiment yourself! I always make sure to have a fruit or vegetable and pair it with a protein in order to have a fulfilling snack with the right vitamins and nutrients. 

TIP: The best way to eat a carb is if you pair it with a complex protein. *Remember however, to stay away from the WHITE carbs. This means, WHITE flour, WHITE rice, WHITE pasta, etc. Those are all processed and stripped of all nutritional benefit.