Snacks to pack so you don’t run out of steam

Snacking can provide the boost of energy we need, help ensure we are meeting our nutritional needs and can even keep us from overeating at our next meal. While there can be important benefits to snacking, it’s important to consider what foods you are snacking on.

When you’re peckish, it can be easy to reach for the packaged, processed snacks. They are quick and convenient and often quite tasty in the moment. However, they are not always filling and they can be full of added sugar, salt and saturated fats. They might even lead to an energy crash an hour or two after eating and when consumed in excess, may lead to poorer health in the long term.

So, what can you eat instead of pre-packaged snacks when you’re feeling hungry? Here is a list of some healthy and satisfying snacks for you to grab so that you don’t run out of steam during the day.

• Chop up some carrots, celery and cucumber, and enjoy with some hummus
• Cut up fresh fruits, such as apples, strawberries, bananas, to create a refreshing fruit salad.
• Enjoy a serving of plain, air-popped popcorn
• Grab a bag of trail mix, which includes a range of chopped nuts and dried fruit. Be careful not to over-consume this snack because trail mix can be high in calories and natural sugars.
• Spread some nut butter or cottage cheese on rice cakes