Healthy Snacks To Curb Your Cravings

Do you wonder sometimes why you are craving for certain foods when you’ve just had your lunch or dinner? Food cravings can be intense, and sometimes it is difficult to get your mind of what you are craving to eat. During these cravings, mostly you end up eating foods high in sugar or carbohydrates, which do more harm to your body than good. In this article, we share some healthy snacks that you can munch on when you crave for some junk.

Healthy Snacks to Include in your Diet

Listed below are a few healthy snacks that you can eat to curb your cravings –

Salted nuts

A handful of mildly salted nuts like pistachio, almonds, walnuts or soy nuts are great healthy snacks to curb your cravings and at the same time satiate your taste buds. These healthy snacks are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, protein and loaded with good amounts of minerals like magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. They also supply healthy amounts of vitamins B and E and are rich in antioxidants.

Roasted seeds

Watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds or flaxseeds are nutrient-dense foods that provide your body with essential proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. They contain a significant amount of micronutrients such as minerals, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, Vitamins B and E, and fibre that help manage blood sugar levels and improve digestion.

Dark Chocolate

If you are craving for something sweet, you can swap your regular chocolate with dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is made with 70% cocoa and is rich in antioxidants. Having just 2-3 pieces of dark chocolate regularly can reduce your risk of heart diseases. However, limit your intake, as an excess of it can add a lot of sugar to your diet. You can try Health Total’s Dark Chocolate, which is less than 15 calories per piece.

Low-fat yogurt with carrots

This is a tasty and comforting snack, which works great as an in-between meal. Yogurt is high in probiotics helps to improve digestion. Carrots are high in beta-carotene and good for your eyes and hair. You can roast the carrots, or grill them with a little salt and olive oil. Add a bit of cumin powder, salt and a little bit of lemon juice to the yogurt and mix it well.

Peanuts

Roasted or boiled peanuts with their shell are a very tasty snack. They are rich in protein and healthy fats. They are also a good source of carbohydrates that gives you a healthy dose of energy. Peanuts offer a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals like biotin, copper, folate, manganese, Vitamin E and phosphorus.

Boiled Chickpeas

Just like other legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils, chickpeas or channa is high in fibre and protein. It comes in different varieties; the most common variety is round and beige and other varieties come in black, red and green. These are sometimes also known as garbanzo beans. Chickpeas are a good source of iron, phosphate, calcium; manganese, zinc, vitamin K and vitamin C. It is best consumed after soaking in water for 8 to 10 hours and then boiling them. You can add salt, lemon juice, raw onions, tomatoes, red chili powder, and chaat masala to boiled channa, garnish with coriander leaves and enjoy this yummy tangy, spicy healthy and filling snack. You can also try out our Peri Peri Chickpeas, which is a great snacking option!

Cucumber with red chili powder and salt

Cucumber is a low-calorie snack that is tasty, easy to carry and contains enormous amounts of water. Thanks to the high water content, it helps you flush out toxins from your body. Just 1 whole cucumber a day is a great snack for your kidneys, liver, bladder, and pancreas. Cucumber also helps prevent blood clotting, is rich in vitamin K and helps in building healthy tissues for your muscles. You can add a little salt, chili powder, and chaat masala to peeled cucumber sticks and enjoy them during your food cravings.

Sliced guava with red chili powder & salt

Fruits are best to consume when you get a food craving. They are naturally sweet, low in calories and rich in fibre. So, you stay full for a long time and satiate your cravings as well. Guava has several health benefits – it helps lower blood sugar levels, improves digestion and heart health.

It is a great food to include in your diet if you are on a weight loss plan. It is great food for your skin and beneficial in fighting painful symptoms of menstruation. Cut guava in slices, sprinkle a little salt and red chili powder for a spicy and sweet snack.

ANJALI MUKERJEE, Nutritionist, Founder Director-Health Total, having health centers in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune -manages obesity & other health related disorders.
Contact numbers: 1800 8918131/+91 86575 61727
For further information, Visit www.health-total.com