This afternoon, Home Care Assitance sponsored Healthy Snacks! Even though we cannot share the wonderful snacks with you over the internet, we would love to take this oppertunity to share with you some of the valuable information that we learned.
When it comes to healthy snacks, the age of the baby carrot is over. Sure, raw carrots are great for you, but so are plenty of other delicious foods. These ten delicious snacks are also "superfoods"- not only are they not bad for you, they have health-boosting properties to boot. Whether you crave something sweet, something salty, something crunchy, or something creamy, there is a superfood snack for you. Note the servicing sizes mentioned and enjoy all snacks in moderation for a healthy, varied diet.
1. Almonds have been shown to lower cholesterol and help maintain a healthy weight. About 1/4 cup of almonds is a beneficial serving. Enjoy them plain or roasted, whole or slivered. Almond butter-just a tablespoon or two-is a healthy treate, too. Try some on whole grain cracker and a cup of green tea for a late afternoon energy boost.
2. Blueberries are as full of caner-and disease-fighing antioxidants as any food around, so much so that they have been even shown to restore antioxidant levels. Also, like cranberries, they can help prevent urinary tract infections. Note that wild blueberries tend to have even more antioxidants than cultivated ones. Fresh berries are delicious all on their own or with a bit of Greek yogurst (see #5). Frozen berries can be used in smoothies or put on top of low-fat frozen yogurt. Use about 1/2 cup fresh or frozen berries as a serving.
3. Broccoli eaten either raw or lightly stemaed contains tons of soluble fiber and antioxidants, as well as folic acid, calcium, iron and potassium. Broccoli has even been shown to have the power to reduce diabetic damage. Don't throw about the stalk/stem! Cut off the thick, fibrous darker green peel to reveal the tender, pale green vegetable underneathe-it has the crunch of celery and a mild broccoli flavor. Try broccoli florets or peeled stems with a little drizzle of soy sauce or a simple dip made from fat-free Greek yogurt (again, see #5)-stir in minced garlic and herbs, lemon zest and minced rosemary, or a sprinkle of cumin and cayenne to taste. About 1/2 cup of florets or peeled stem is a serving.
4. Cherries, tart ones in particular have similarly insanely high antioxidant levels as blueberries, putting them in the position to fight memory loss, heart disease and diabetes. They've also been shown to help reduce inflammation, helping alleviate arthritic and gout pain. Fresh, frozen, or dried (unsweetened) tart cherries make a great snack on their own or combined with other nuts (almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds) and fruits (blueberries, raisins). Count 1/2 cup fresh cerries or 1/4 cup dried cherries as a serving.
5. Greek yogurt is a thick and creamy in a way regular yogurt can only dream of. It's high in calcium, of course, and contains good levels of probiotics, which aid healthy digestion. But did you know low-fat and fat-free versions contain twice as much protein as regular yogurt? The texture of Greek yogurt makes it a great snack-especially when topped with dried fruits like blueberries, tart cherries, or raisins-as well as a good substitute for fatty sour cream. Include it in your three servings (1/2 cup each) of low fair dairy a day.
6. Dark Choclate-saving the best for last! Dark chocolate has tons of antioxidants, magnesium, mangases, copper, zinc, and phophorous. Look for cholcate that contains over 70% cocoa to get the full benefit of cholcate's antioxidant powers and limit your intake to about an ounce a day.
Lyndsey took a moment to pass out her delcious snack cups.
These snacks were DELCIOUS!
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