Many people feel lost as to what a ‘healthy snack’ looks like. This may be due to the fact that when thinking of snacks, we sometimes think of 'treats', and the foods which fall under this category. The main rule when choosing healthy snacks is to select foods that come from one or more of the core food groups. Think wholegrains and cereals, fruit, vegetables, lean meat or vegetarian alternatives and dairy foods. Foods which fall into the treat category may provide you with energy (kilojoules/calories), but they generally lack the vitamins and minerals found in foods from the core groups.
Here is a list of snacks to get you started.
· Fruit and yoghurt
· Cheese and wholegrain crackers
· fruit bread with ricotta cheese and berries
· Glass of milk or cold Milo®
· Veggie sticks and dip
· Handful of nuts
· Wholegrain toast with peanut or almond butter
· Crackers with dip (e.g. hummus or avocado)
· Roasted chickpeas, edamame or fava beans
· Homemade tortilla chips with a tomato salsa
· Homemade sweet or savoury muffins
When it comes to healthy eating you need to plan and prepare in advance to ensure you have healthy choices in the fridge and pantry. This will prevent you from making poor nutritional choices at the last minute.
For personalised dietary advice speak with an Accredited Practicing Dietitian or Sports Dietitian by searching for one using the below websites.
Dietitians Australia https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/
Sports Dietitians Australia https://www.sportsdietitians.com.au/
Written by Julie Hill, Accredited Practicing Dietitian
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