Snacking can be a valuable part of a healthy eating plan—regular munching keeps blood sugar levels stable and can help prevent overeating later in the day—but the extent of these benefits depends on one crucial variable: the kind of food what you put into your mouth. Down a sugar-coated doughnut mid-morning or a greasy bag of chips at 3 p.m. and your “healthy” snacking routine is actually a belly-expanding, energy-zapping habit. A better idea: Nibble on nutritionally balanced 100- to 200-calorie snacks that contain some carbs, protein, and healthy fats. How much you eat depends on your activity level, but be sure to listen to your hunger cues. Read on for 15 quick and healthy ways to fuel your day.
The following snacks are from Keri Gans, RD, author of The Small Change Diet, and Michelle Dudash, RD, and a professional chef and recipe developer in Phoenix, AZ.
