Healthy Snacks to Help Fight Junk Food Cravings
Stock Up On These Healthy Snacks For When Junk Food Cravings Hit
Junk food is cheap, filled with craving-inducing ingredients, and widely available. That being said, it’s no surprise that it can be incredibly difficult to resist our favorite sweet or salty snacks – but it isn’t impossible! Sometimes just having an alternative can steer you away from the empty calories of junk food. Keep some of these healthy snack options on hand in your pantry, desk drawer, purse, or car to help you stay away from the junk food.
The next time a craving strikes, you’ll be more than ready to fight it off.
Healthy snacks when you’re craving chocolate or sugar
Who doesn’t love a chocolate treat or a sugary snack every once in a while? If your sweet tooth is more in control of you than you are of it, try reaching for these healthier alternatives:
- Chocolate covered strawberries — use darker chocolate for an even healthier option.
- Chocolate doesn’t have to be an unhealthy indulgence. Opt for very dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher) to avoid excessive amounts of sugar and to maximize antioxidants.
- Fresh fruits, which contain natural sugar and can minimize cravings.
- Homemade fruit smoothies that you can customize to meet your nutritional (and taste bud) needs. Making smoothies yourself allows you to be in control of added sugars, unlike when you purchase them at juice and smoothie retailers.
- Banana ice cream. Simple and yummy.
- Sorbet to help alleviate your sweet tooth. For an even healthier variety, try making your own homemade sorbet using the recommended sugar substitutes.
- Plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey for sweetness provides protein and just enough sweetness. Be a savvy consumer and keep an eye on the sugar content when purchasing yogurt – not all Greek yogurts are created equally!
- Protein bars are widely available in endless flavor combinations. Look for brands without added sugar and always read the nutrition labels.
Healthy snacks to combat cravings for salty foods
Before you grab that bag of potato chips, consider making some of these healthier swaps to help keep your salt cravings under control:
- Air-popped popcorn. Try adding some coconut butter and a bit of sea salt for even more flavor, but don’t stop there — spices like garlic or paprika can taste great on popcorn, too.
- Guacamole with a few tortilla chips.
- Homemade kale chips.
- Salt-free or low-salt nuts, like almonds or peanuts. Be aware of your portions since nuts are calorically dense, and it’s easy to overindulge without realizing.
- Olives
- Cucumbers with sea salt and a splash of red wine vinegar
- Cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto
- Beef or turkey jerky (look for more natural brands that don’t use all the additives)
Healthier options if you’re craving fried foods and starches
Organic Hard Boiled Eggs Ready to EatBread, pasta, fried foods – sometimes, it feels like you just have to have them. Luckily, there are healthy snacks that can help stave off these cravings. Just remember that carbohydrates aren’t inherently bad and there are options that aren’t overly processed:
- Whole grain cereals, crackers, breads, and oats. Spread some hummus or peanut butter onto your favorite healthy cracker for an extra dose of flavor and protein.
- Homemade quinoa berry bites.
- Hard boiled eggs, which will give your body a dose of healthy fats and protein, as opposed to the unhealthy fats found in fried foods.
- Double nut butter “wafflewhich”.
Of course, it’s okay to indulge in your favorite junk foods occasionally, as long as you don’t over indulge. If your junk food cravings hit you more often than you’d like, these snacks may be the perfect solution to help you develop healthier food choices.
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