15 EASY HEALTHY SNACKS

One of the most common questions I get in my day-to-day is: "What can I snack on?". Here are a few options that are healthy and easy and just might make you feel like you're back in kindergarten.  I'm not exactly re-inventing the wheel here with this list; in fact, it's pretty simple.  If you're looking for snacks that will unlock the gourmet secrets of the universe, you're in the wrong place. On the plus side, most of these snacks have mobile options so you can take them with you!

1. Cheese sticks (or cheese wedges, or cheese circles... basically, pieces of cheese in some shape):  So, cheese has some good stuff for your body: calcium and yumminess and all that. I always recommend that when you snack on cheese, get it prepackaged.  By this, I mean have the cheese portioned out before you start eating it... because cheese is delicious and you wouldn't be the first person to overindulge because you didn't measure before hand.

2. Almonds or other nuts: They have lots of yummy, healthy fats and vitamins and minerals that are good for your body.  Make sure you get raw unsalted ones, and again, make sure you measure them out beforehand.  Usually, a serving of nuts is around a quarter cup, but check the bag before you start munching.

3. Hummus and veggies: I like carrots with my hummus, personally, but go on and get crazy - try out cucumbers and tomatoes (technically fruit, but I did say get crazy). Have a wild time with it. Scream into the night while you enjoy your hummus/veggie combo.  Plus, hummus is relatively low calorie, so this is a good option when you are extra hungry.

4. Yogurt: This category can be a little tricky, 'cause yogurt can be full of added refined sugar or artifical sweeteners.  I recommend getting a plain yogurt with no added sugar (Greek yogurt if you want some extra protein). Then you can add some honey and fruit to flavor it.

5. Pretty much any fruit ever:  I'm not sure if this needs to be explained: fruit is good for you.  It will have vitamins and minerals - Yay!  Exciting stuff, I know.  The only thing I have to add is that fruit has a lot of natural sugar. So if you're trying to lose weight in addition to eating healthier, I would recommend eating fruit in the morning and limiting it to only a few servings a day.

why is that blueberry so big?

6. Pretty much any veggie ever:  Again, pretty simple. No restrictions this time. Just eat veggies.  Just do it.  I don't care if they taste gross, they are good for you.  Your parents were right.

7. Celery or carrots or apples with peanut butter/almond butter:  There is a reason five-year-olds love this food.  It is delicious. A perfect pairing of sweet and salty.  Just measure the peanut butter before you eat it.

8. Sunflower seeds: Same rules as the nuts - get them unsalted and raw.  They won't be as tasty as the ranch flavored ones, but they will be much healthier.

9. Beef jerky: This is another tricky category, because beef jerky usually has a ton of sodium and chemicals.  If you have any heart problems, I would avoid this as a snack because of the sodium.  I would also see if you could get an organic or homemade jerky over the typical brand.  However, if you're stuck at a gas station and your choice is chips or beef jerky, pick the jerky.

10. Hard boiled eggs:  Super simple snack and tons of protein.  If you're worried about the cholesterol simple fix just don't eat the yolk.

11. Granola with only natural sugar: Like the jerky, this may be hard to find outside of a health food store, but avoiding granola that has white sugar added is worth your time.  Look for words like 'honey' and 'agave' on the ingredient list, and put back the ones with 'sugar'.

12. Banana chips:  So, this is another snack that is tasty but can pack a punch to your calories for the day. They are usually made by frying banana slices in some type of oil: olive oil, or more commonly, coconut oil, are great choices. If it says something else, put them back.  You should also put them back if you look at the ingredient list and it has something besides the banana and oil.  Sometimes people add sugar to the banana chips, which is pretty redundant since bananas have natural sugar.

13. Veggies and guacamole: Admittedly not as delicious as chips and guac, but definitely a lot healthier.

14. Apples and cheese: I've already mentioned fruit and fruit in combination with other stuff and cheese, but this snack is so good I think it deserves its own number.  Seriously, it's amazing. I recommend a sharp cheddar and a sweet apple, but it's hard to mess this one up.  Try it at least once before you knock it.

15. Protein shake/ various smoothie-type drinks: Most people reserve protein shakes for after a workout, but believe it or not, there isn't actually a rule that says you can't drink them whenever you want.  My only stipulation is don't try to have them for every single snack. Your diet shouldn't be completely liquid, because you miss out on fiber and other stuff.

Hopefully you guys like this list and I've given you at least one new snack option!  If you have any snack ideas you'd like to share, feel free to post them in the comments section.