Hungry Now? The 4 Most Important Benefits of Healthy Snacking!

Nutrition plays a key role in a healthy lifestyle as it impacts your overall health. While this is not up for debate, you may wonder if snacking is really good or bad for you. This actually depends on what you consider a snack! Healthy snacking benefits your body, but eating a burger, chips, or candy will not as these are unhealthy and provide no nutrients to the body. 

Instead of these, try healthy munchies like carrots or jackfruit chips to experience the benefits of healthy snacking. Even though the healthy snacking trend seems like it is going against the weight loss race, you can find various healthy snacks that can actually help you lose weight. Read on to understand the benefits of healthy snacking. 

What is healthy snacking? 

Healthy snacking is picking foods to eat in between meals that are low in added sugar and fat. These snacks usually contain more fiber and water [1]. With the help of healthy snacking, you can consume fewer calories but feel full for longer. Think of having a slice of watermelon rather than eating a bag of chips, for instance. 

Here are some of the common healthy snacks.

• Fruits - apple, watermelon, pear, orange, grapes
• Vegetables - carrot, celery, tomato, cucumber 
• Whole grain snacks - cereal, plain popcorn, nuts
• Low-fat dairy - soya milk, almond milk, vegan cheese

Why is healthy snacking important? 

Earlier, people didn’t consider snacking a good habit, assuming it didn’t support weight loss or maintenance. But snacking is now being recognized as a necessary part of your diet. Healthy snacking is important as it can provide you energy in the middle of the day if you are feeling dull or tired [2]. It is also a great way to start your workout or keep from overeating during meals. Switching to healthy snacks can be a challenge at first, but there is a wide variety to choose from. Just make sure that you don’t consume unhealthy snacks to remain healthy and feel energized. 

What are the benefits of healthy snacking?

Helps in weight control

Healthy snacking keeps extreme hunger at bay, so you don’t end up overeating and gaining weight. If you eat three big meals, you can reduce the quantity of each meal with the help of healthy snacking and help your body digest faster. This helps control your weight.

Fuels your brain

Healthy snacks act as fuel for your body, making you alert and helping you focus on work. Choosing foods like avocados and dark chocolate boosts your brain function by keeping your energy levels up. 

Provides energy and uplifts mood

Healthy snacks keep you going all day by refreshing your energy. They can also help in uplifting your mood and mental well-being [3].

Protects heart health

Eating at timely gaps and in proportion helps regulate your blood glucose levels. It can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Both of these benefits, in turn, benefit your heart health and protect it from heart illness or diabetes. Healthy snacking is one of the best ways to boost your overall health.

What are some healthy snacking tips? 

• Keep your snacks small
• Ensure that the calorie count does not go below 150 and above200
• Be sure to eat within a gap of a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 hours
• Try to have a snack in between your meals
• Avoid having a snack late at night unless you are hungry
• Improve digestion by drinking water after every snack and meal

What should be included in a satisfying snack?

Choosing wisely will help you stay full and provide energy throughout the day. It is important to pick healthy snack options that have a balance of the following.

• Carbohydrate
• Avoid saturated fats
• Protein
• Healthy fats
• Vitamins

Whether you are a student, a working professional, or a senior citizen, you can start with healthy snacking to help you power through the day. Food is the fuel to our body, and nutritious munchies can help you stay focused by giving your brain a mini break. If you are ready to start eating healthy and reap its benefits, get guidance on Bajaj Finserv Health. You can consult top nutritionists on the platform to create a proper diet plan by understanding the positive and negative impacts of snacking. Make positive diet choices and achieve your health goals easily!