Snacks and clean eating…..Does it exist? Many people have different opinions on this and at the end of the day you need to look at where you are in regards to accomplishing goals. I used to think that having a “Cheat Meal” will destroy all progress so wouldn’t venture off of what I was told to eat. But shocking your body every now and then isn’t the end of the world and sometimes it actually helps your body progress. Cheat meals increase Leptin levels. Leptin is the hormone that encourages metabolism of fat and at the same time, it manages appetite.
Now being creative with healthy snacks is key. There ate lots of food items that qualify for being easy, and healthy. Sometimes the mundane meal prep life keeps us from remembering what qualifies as easy and healthy.
I’m just going to list some Easy, Healthy Snack Ideas:
- Vegetables & Hummus
- Apples & Peanut Butter (My favorite)
- Greek Yogurt and Berries
- Avocado & Cottage Cheese
- Vegetables & Guacamole
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Air-Popped popcorn
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Rice Cakes & Almond Butter
- Cucumbers
- Quest Protein Bars
Its amazing what your body sees as a snack once you’ve been clean eating for a long time. I never used to love peanut butter so much. Now I love when I see a case lot sale and I can stock up.
Just plan ahead and have healthy options ready to go. This will help you stay on track and not be tempted with easy, unhealthy choices.