Health and Diet Articles

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Choosing Healthy Snacks from Unhealthy Places

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

vending_machine_xw300Healthy snacks on the go can be a difficult task to maneuver – but these snacks do not have to crash the diet that you have been working so hard to follow.

Choosing from a Vending Machine

How do you choose from the myriad of snacks available in the vending machine? Between the choices of chips, candy and popcorn with a few granola bars thrown in for good nature – how can you be sure that you are making the best diet conscious choice? The average amount of calories in a vending machine snack include upwards of two hundred and fifty calories! When you are trying to find snacks that are low enough in calories to adhere with your diet practices, two hundred calories is just too much!

Pretzels are the best bet for choosing a snack from the vending machine. These are the lowest calorie snack available as they provide adequate levels of carbohydrates which can provide the body with much required energy. After all, carbohydrates are the most effective energy sources that we consume. As an added bonus, look for multigrain pretzels in the vending machine to increase the health factor of the snack.

Choosing Healthy Snacks from Fast Food Restaurants

Choosing healthy food from fast food restaurants can be a breeze when you are thinking about choosing healthy and low calorie options while making substitutions throughout the meals. For example, a grilled chicken sandwich with the substitute of a side salad. To decrease the amount of calories choose water with your meal and a low-fat dressing in lieu of the traditional soda or juice and full-fat salad dressing.

Even one normal fast food meal such as a burger and fries can have as much as the daily recommended intake of sodium, carbohydrates and trans-fats. Fast food restaurants often have the nutritional breakdown of the certain foods available – you may just have to ask. It is here that you will find the information for the sodium, fat and carbohydrate contents.

Choosing Healthy Snacks at the Convenience Store

Whether you are on a road trip, or simply filling up your vehicle for gas in the middle of the day it can be difficult to move past the unhealthy options that are laden on the shelves of the convenience store.

Many convenience stores have a healthy fruit section as vendors are realizing the transition that many consumers are making towards a healthier lifestyle. Choose items such as fruit, whole grain granola bars, cereal bars or baked potato chips. There are many drinks available that can quench your thirst while satisfying your sweet tooth and contain one to two servings of fruits and vegetables.

You should avoid chocolate bars and chips as they are filled with fats, sugars and refined and processed food. These foods are not beneficial to the body and will not satisfy your hunger.

Making healthy choices can be simple when you shop aware. Many unhealthy choices are made on a whim so becoming prepared for the options that you are going to face when encountering these choices.