Healthy Writers Series: Yummy Healthy Snacks

By Milli Thornton

It can be tempting (and fun) to snack while writing. But since writing is such a sedentary pursuit, unless you’ve got a great metabolism—and unless you get some exercise nearly every day—the hazards of over-snacking are obvious. Especially if you choose snacks loaded with salt or sugar, such as flavored Pringles or Hershey’s chocolate bars.

Before you give in to those cravings, consider some snacks that can still taste good but won’t put you into an early grave (or Weight Watchers) for the sake of some munching.

Naturally, if you have a medical condition, consult with your health care practitioner before trying anything suggested on the Internet.

STONYFIELD CHOCOLATE UNDERGROUND

WebMD says “One of the words you’ll be hearing more of in relation to yogurt is ‘probiotics.’ Probiotic, which literally means ‘for life,’ refers to living organisms that can result in a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.”

I love this from the Stonyfield web site: “We make our yogurt and other products from fine organic ingredients and nothing artificial ever. Our ingredients are produced without the use of toxic, persistent pesticides, chemical fertilizers, synthetic hormones, antibiotics or genetically-modified organisms.”

Stonyfield produces a range of organic yogurts. I’m highlighting Chocolate Underground because it’s a decadent chocolate snack without the guilt or pimple-power of a Hershey’s snack. The chocolate at the bottom of the creamy, whole milk yogurt is worth scraping the cup for!

RAW, UNSALTED ALMONDS

To me, these taste good. Earthy. I eat them nearly every day just because I love the taste.

Some of the benefits of raw almonds: protein, magnesium, potassium, trace minerals, vitamins B2, B17 and E, lowered gallstone risk, weight loss, monounsaturated fat (the “good” kind of fat that your heart and arteries love).

While researching this article I found out that not all almonds labeled “raw” are good for us (or truly raw). Alas, labeling laws can deceive us, even for the innocent almond. See Related Topics at the end of this post for a link to more information.

DEVILED EGGS FROM THE DELI

We’ve all seen those boxes of deviled eggs in the supermarket. But do you only buy them as hors d’oeuvres for company? Eggs are a great source of protein and can be so satisfying when you’re trying to resist temptation.

Unfortunately, eggs get a bad rap due to the cholesterol scare. Sometimes the things we’ve been told are bad, bad, bad are later eased up on or exonerated by more research, such as the egg.

These days you’ll see products touted as healthy (cholesterol-free) that use only the whites of the egg. But if you read up about whole foods, you’ll soon see the folly of using only part of a food instead of the whole food that nature provides.

KASHI SOFT-BAKED COOKIES

Kashi is the name of a company that believes in the benefits of whole grains. Their products feature high protein content, high fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients.

Ever tried to find a healthy cookie and ended up disappointed? In my opinion, the low-fat bandwagon has gone too far—sacrificing real education about what constitutes good and bad fat to instead manipulate people’s fears about gaining weight.

The Kashi folks say: “Our cookies combine 7 Whole Grains with hearty, natural ingredients like peanuts, raisins, cranberries, shredded coconut, and dark chocolate, for a chewy, home-baked taste.”

And they’re delish! My favorite is the Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip, but there’s also Oatmeal Raisin Flax and Happy Trail Mix.

What are your favorite healthy snacks?

———

RELATED TOPICS

Benefits of Raw Almonds

Nutritionists take a fresh look at the health benefits of eggs

———

Milli Thornton (aka Milliver) is the author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers. She is owner of the Fear of Writing Online Course, where her mission is to put the fun back into writing. Milli also coaches writers individually at Writer’s Muse Coaching Service.