Smart Snacking While on the Go

Smart snacking is an art in itself, but once individuals get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.  The first step is recognizing nutritious snacks from the overwhelming number of choices available in today’s market of snack foods.  The fun part is choosing personal favorites and having them readily available to you and your family.  At times, the most challenging part is trying to work these healthy snacks in throughout the busy day! 

Make it easy on yourself when it comes to snacking.  Think of every day as going on a picnic!  Keep an insulated cooler with an ice block handy when traveling to and from work, kids’ activities, meetings, etc.  It is no fun eating yogurt with a fork, so don’t forget the appropriate cutlery! 

Choose healthy items that travel easily such as:

• Nuts - walnuts, almonds, pistachios - Visit the NUTnutrition website for more info.
• Low-sodium V-8 juice
• Trail mix
• Granola
• String cheese (partly skimmed)
• Peanut butter on whole grain crackers
• Low-fat yogurt
• Fresh fruits - bananas, strawberries, blueberries, seedless grapes, apples
• Raw vegetables - baby carrots, grape tomatoes, broccoli florets, celery sticks
• Dried fruit - apricots, bananas, raisins
• Small carton of skim milk
• Bottled water
• 100% fruit juice boxes

Smart snacking includes a mid-morning snack, an afternoon snack, and an evening snack, all in addition to three meals a day.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion released “MyPyramid” in April, 2005, which illustrates that items from all five food groups are needed each day for good health.  Keep in mind that many of the pre-packaged foods, while convenient, provide little nutrition and are very high in fat and calories.

So, now it’s time to grab your favorite snacks, pack, and GO!