Snack attack: 10 healthy alternatives for your cravings

Small portions of nutritious and healthy food can keep you full throughout the day and limit your cravings for unhealthy foods.

Whether you’re looking for a morning, daytime or evening snack, it is important to choose options with a lot of protein and nutrients.

Here are appetising options which will satisfy your appetite and help to promote your overall health and wellbeing.

1. Dark chocolate

If you have a sweet tooth, then dark chocolate is a great alternative. A chocolate bar with at least 70% cacao powder is likely to contain less sugar and may help fight inflammation, calm your mood, and lower blood pressure.

According to the website Medical News Today, dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc.

2. Apple slices with peanut butter

One medium apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter provides you with a nice balance of sweet flavor with a crisp and creamy texture. Apples are high in fibre and a healthy dose of fibre in turn reduces risk of heart disease.

As Healthline website notes, both apples and peanut butter contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and health-promoting plant compounds.

3. Hard-boiled eggs

Eggs are considered one of the healthiest snacks you can eat. Hard-boiled eggs are full of vital nutrients, from muscle-building protein to metabolism-boosting B vitamins notes the Cooking Light website.

Overall, two large, hard-boiled eggs pack plenty of protein, vitamins, are incredibly filling and may even help you lose weight if you are substituting them for other less healthy options.

4. Popcorn

If you’re not dousing the kernels with butter, popcorn can be a very healthy snack option.

According to Healthline, popcorn is high in several important nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and polyphenol antioxidants.

Try to stay away from microwaved popcorn. In addition, to add some flavour, try sprinkling some of your favorite herbs or spices on top.

5. A piece of cheese

Cheese comes in so many different varieties and flavours. It is a delicious food that is filling enough to be a snack on its own. As the Eating Well website suggests: “Keeping with heart health, a daily snack of cheese may lower your cholesterol”.

6. Celery sticks with cream cheese

Five small celery sticks with one spoon of cream cheese serves as a classic low-carb, filling snack. Here too, according to the Healthline website, celery contains luteolin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and may help prevent cancer.

7. Plain yoghurt with berries

Craving something sweet? Then try plain yogurt with berries as it is filled with protein, nutrients and is extremely filling. The Live Strong website notes that berries and yogurt also help improve digestion.

8. Mixed nuts

When they’re not covered with chocolate, sugar or salt, nuts are a nutritious snack as they provide the perfect balance of healthy fat, protein, and fibre.

Since they don’t require refrigeration, they’re perfect for taking on the go!

9. Vegetable chips

Instead of reaching for a bag of those processed chips, try vegetable chips as an alternative snack. The Live Strong website the low-saturated fat content is a plus because “watching your intake of this kind of fat is a good way to protect the health of your heart”.

10. A piece of fruit

Finally, a less complicated snack is always the portable, easy-to-eat single piece of fruit such as bananas, apples, pears, oranges and grapes.