Being on a diet means you have to avoid many things you love eating, like burgers, fries, pizzas, pasta, etc. To stay fit and healthy, you need to keep your cravings in check by consuming food items that make you feel fuller for longer while stabilizing your blood sugar level.
If you are experiencing food cravings more than usual, know that you are not alone. According to a study, around 90 percent of people in the world experience food cravings. It is difficult to ignore food cravings, and they often lead you to consume calorie-dense items that are bad for your health. The best way to combat food cravings is to instantly consume a healthy snack that is a treat for your taste buds and low in calories.
You experience cravings when you are not consuming sufficient calories or nutrients, which causes your body to signal you to eat. The relationship between the number of calories you consume and food cravings is complex. However, sufficient research proves that confusing calories in deficit lead to increased food cravings.
Food cravings can be very tricky to deal with or resist, especially if you are on a diet. However, by planning your snacks ahead and stocking up on healthy snacks, you can resist the urge to eat unhealthy food. If you want to satisfy your cravings without cheating on your diet, we have got you covered. In this blog post, we will cover some healthy snack options that are perfect for your cravings. Read on to find out!
Six Healthy Snacks for Cravings
Food cravings are normal and commonly experienced by everyone. We have put together some delicious healthy snacks for cravings!
1. Greek Yogurt
If you are looking for a healthy snack high in protein and low in sugar, then go for Greek yogurt. This creamy, indulgent, and healthy snack will instantly eliminate the urge to eat calorie-dense and unhealthy snacks. Greek yogurt is an excellent source of vitamin B, calcium, and beneficial bacteria. You can combine Greek Yogurt with fruits and nuts to make the perfect healthy snack that caters to your cravings. This combination of essential nutrients is excellent for your digestive system and bones.
2. Fresh Fruits
Fruits are naturally sweet, making them an excellent choice for a snack when you are craving sugar. Fruits taste great and are also rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber while also being low in calories. You can mix a bowl of your favorite fruits and add a dash of cinnamon to make a scrumptious food salad. Consuming fruits also works wonders for your skin, giving you a fresh and radiant glow. The optimal amount of fruits you should consume daily is around two servings. Fruits are an excellent way to improve your overall health and keep your calories in check.
3. Dark Chocolate
If you have a sweet tooth, you probably experience chocolate cravings a lot. By swapping regular chocolate with dark chocolate made from 70 percent cocoa and antioxidants, you can fix your craving for sweets while consuming less sugar. However, be sure to keep your portion size in check. You can stick to a 1-ounce serving that contains around 100 calories. To reap the health benefits of consuming dark chocolate, take it in small amounts. If you consume it in large portions, it is a source of added sugar to your diet in excessive quantities. You may not have the same protective effects on your health.
4. Olives
Snacking on some olives is a great way to satisfy your cravings while watching your calorie intake. They are low in calories and also contain beneficial plant compounds, vitamin E, and other antioxidants, making them the perfect healthy snack.
Olives also contain oleic acid, which is known to treat inflammation and improve heart health. However, like all other snacks, you must consume them in moderation as they contain sodium. Also, it is essential to note that excess of anything can be harmful to your health.
5. Trail Mix
Trail mix is one of the most popular and healthy snack choices to halt your cravings as it contains a wide variety of nuts and dried fruits. Although the exact combination of ingredients in a trail mix can vary, it still makes for an excellent healthy, and easily portable snack. If you have sugar cravings, the sweetness of dried fruits in the trail mix will help satisfy the urge, whereas nuts are an excellent source of fiber, plant compounds, and healthy fats. Trail mix is easy to DIY. It typically includes dried fruits, granola, nuts, candy, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. When consumed in moderation (around one handful per serving), trail mix is a 100 percent part of a healthy diet, offering you a perfect sweet and salty combination to keep your cravings in check between meals.
6. Fruits Combined With Nut Butter
If you dip your fruits in butter, it makes for the perfect healthy snack, especially for people who are health conscious.
Food cravings often involve craving something sugary-sweet or crunchy. This snack choice satisfies both cravings.
This healthy snack is rich in minerals and vitamins found in fruits, along with beneficial plant compounds and proteins in nuts.
Watching your portion size while consuming this snack is essential, as nut butter is delicious, causing you to overindulge. Also, to make this snack healthy, use a nut butter that only contains nuts and a minimal amount of salt.
Our Concluding Thoughts
In summary, snacks can be a tricky affair because they are like a two-sided sword. While you can take them to curb your desires for a while and keep you going, you have to know when to stop; otherwise, anything taken without moderation can upset your diet. The key here is to balance your needs and wants so that you can satisfy both without negating the other. Try these healthy snacks for cravings to maintain a healthy diet!
Happy munching!
