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This article is all about healthy snacks to eat when junk food cravings hit.
Want to get some ideas for health snacks when junk food cravings hit? We’ve all been tempted to eat some junk food whenever we know we probably shouldn’t.
Although I am a huge advocate for balance in our diets, and I believe sometimes it’s ok to eat junk food if it is in moderation, I know that whenever I eat healthy, tasty snacks, I don’t even crave junk food anymore.
Now I usually prefer healthy snacks over junk food because they are tasty and they make me feel satisfied without feeling bloated, nauseated, or the abdominal pains I often get after consuming junk foods.
Let’s get into all the healthy snacks to eat when junk food cravings hit. Chances are, these snacks are so yummy that you won’t even crave junk food.
I am going to focus on really easy snacks because sometimes the biggest hurdle to eating healthy is convenience or lack thereof.
With some minimal preparation, you can eat all of these healthy snacks and you will feel so good physically and mentally after making the conscious decision to prioritize eating whole foods.
HEALTHY SNACKS TO EAT WHEN JUNK FOOD CRAVINGS HIT
1. Fresh Fruit
This may seem overly obvious. And some of you may forget how fresh fruit is a healthy snack option. Fruit is alway kind of there in plain sight.
Fruit is a great snack because if you keep it in stock, it requires minimal preparation. Just grab some and get snacking!
According to MyPlate, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official dietary guidelines for Americans, fruit is a recommended food group and women aged 19-60+ should strive to eat 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit per day.
What is considered a serving of fruit?
According to MyPlate, “The Fruit Group includes all fruits and 100% fruit juice. Fruits may be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated. Fruits can be eaten whole, cut up, pureed (mashed), or cooked. At least half of the recommended amount of fruit eaten should come from whole fruit, rather than 100% fruit juice.”
Keep in mind, fresh fruit and dry fruit are not equal. A half cup of dried fruit is the same serving as one cup of fresh fruit.
I snack on fruit daily and I strive to have some in my kitchen at most times. Some of my favorite fruits are grapes, oranges, and strawberries.
2. Kale Chips
This is a healthy snack idea if you are craving something salty with a little bit of crunch. Kale is a great snack and nutrient dense, as it is packed with Vitamin A, K, B6, and C as well as Calcium, potassium and magnesium.
This snack is easy to prepare, and it only takes like 5 minutes of preparation before popping it in the oven for twenty minutes.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 bunch of kale
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of salt
How to Make It:
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit
- On an oven safe baking sheet, massage olive oil and salt into the kale.
- Bake in the kale in the preheated oven for twenty minutes, turning the kale halfway through.
3. Banana Oat Protein Smoothie
This is a tasty cold treat – perfect for the summer days ahead! This is a great snack in between meals, or even as a meal replacement as the protein dense smoothie may keep you full for a while.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup of oats
- 1 scoop of you favorite vanilla protein powder
- 1 cup of milk or alternative milk
- 1 cup of ice (optional)
- Blender
How to Make It:
- Combine the banana, oats, protein powder, and milk in a blender.
- Blend until smooth. Add the ice for more coldness.
4. Fresh Apples With Cinnamon and Nut Butter
This is one of my favorite snacks and it is Whole30 approved as it does not have any added sugar in it (so long as the nut butter you choose is free of added sugar.)
This snack requires very little preparation, it is filling, and it reminds me of apple pie!
What You’ll Need:
- One apple
- Apple slicer or knife
- Ground cinnamon
- Peanut butter, almond butter, or another of your favorite nut butters.
How to Make it:
- Cut up a fresh apple.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on the apple.
- Pair it with 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter. (I am using the Barney Almond Butter – so good!)
5. Yasso Frozen Yogurt Bars
I LOVE these frozen yogurt bars by Yasso. They taste like a “cheat day” treat – so to speak – because they are so good. The best part about them is that each bar is only 100 calories. I personally love the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor the best. The sea salt caramel flavor is my second most favorite flavor.
6. Hummus With Veggies
This is a simple, easy snack if you aren’t in the mood for something sweet. I love to pair carrots and celery with hummus. Hummus is a great source of plant based protein as well as calcium, iron, folate, zine, and B vitamins.
Additionally, hummus gets rich and creamy from olive oil which is an excellent source of heart healthy fats. Eating such good fats are known to lower your chances of developing various heart conditions.
This article was all about healthy snacks when junk food cravings hit.
I hope you liked all of these ideas for healthy snacks to eat when junk food cravings hit. As always, life is all about balance, so a little bit of junk food in moderation won’t derail your entire fitness journey. However, most of the time one should strive to consume whole foods for about 80% of their diet.
