It is a New Year, which means the slate is clean. Time to put new habits in place and ditch the not-so-good habits.

I do not set a specific New Year’s resolution. From past years, I have found that I am lucky to stick past the first day of the year. Yes, my track record with New Year’s resolutions is not so hot. So why waste my time? Maybe it works with you. I am by no means trying to knock New Year’s resolutions!
I have decided to try something new, something not so drastic or intimidating as a New Year’s resolution. Am I weird for being intimidated by the word resolution? Probably. I have set a few goals, with one being to improve my snack choices.
Snacks can make or break a healthy lifestyle. And holy cow, have you walked down the snack aisle at the grocery store? Countless bags of chips, cookies, candies… fat, salt, sugar, and more sugar. Not cool. Companies spend billions of dollars each year marketing these products, raving about how their product is the best in the world. This does not help our snack situation.
So are you stuck? Need some new ideas? Let’s brainstorm a bit.
1. Fresh Fruit – Fruit is always an awesome option. Fruits are full of vitamins, minerals. and other wonderful things. Pick fruits in season so you are not paying an arm and a leg. Let’s keep our limbs.

2. Trail Mix - A mix of nuts and dried fruits makes for an easy snack to grab on the run. Use all of your will power to walk past the trail mixes with chocolate pieces to avoid added sugar. Better yet, find a recipe to make some at home!

3. Breakfast Cereal - A cereal high in fiber and low in sugar topped with low or non-fat milk makes a perfect snack. Use a small bowl to avoid turning a snack into a feast!
4. Yogurt - There are numerous options for yogurt at the store. The best options are Greek yogurt, as well as low-fat, reduced-fat, or non-fat. Avoid yogurts with added sugar to get the most from the snack!

5. Hummus – I love that this product is gaining popularity. There are a number of varieties, my favorite is roasted red pepper. It pairs perfectly with veggies, crackers, and pretzels.
6. Natural Peanut Butter - I think I have made it well-known I am obsessed with peanut butter. It works perfectly by itself or with another food. Banana + Peanut Butter = A match made in heaven (or the snack aisle
)
7. Popcorn - Have you seen the 100 calorie popcorn bags? They are awesome! Already portioned out perfectly, this snack requires zero thought. Pop it in the microwave and you are good to go!

8. Granola Bars - These are kind of hit or miss. There are several granola bars that are equivalent to a candy bar (I am a sucker for chocolate, so I would rather choose a candy bar). However, there are several granola bars that make great choices. Compare nutrition labels to make the best choice! My goal is to come up with a recipe for these little guys. I promise to share it when I do
9. Fresh Veggies – Another great low calorie snack choice with the benefits of fantastic vitamins and minerals. They are perfect alone or paired with hummus, plain yogurt, or natural peanut butter (I am thinking celery, I do not believe spinach would pair well with peanut butter. I love both, but the thought of peanut butter with spinach makes me cringe.)

10. Nuts - Pistachios, almonds, and walnuts are also great snacks. Like trail mix, they are easy to grab on the go. Also, nuts are filled with healthy fats. Just be mindful of the portion sizes, the calories in these fellows can add up pretty fast.
Snack on, friends









































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