Delicious, healthier replacements for the snacks you love!

           When individuals go to eat a snack, they usually grab it and move on with their day. People normally do not check the ingredients or nutrition label to see what they are truly consuming. This can lead to ingesting unclean or harmful ingredients. Even though a food product has harmful components, it does not mean you must give it up entirely. However, there are healthier, more nutritious replacements individuals can consume.

Lay’s Potato Chips

       Lay’s Potato Chips are a staple in American homes. Although they are quite tasty, they are certainly not healthy. Approximately 15 chips are in one serving and contain 160 calories and 10 grams of fat. A regular-sized bag contains many servings, and most people consume several. Therefore, chips are not a great food to consume. The calories are mainly derived from the vegetable oils that the chips are fried in. Vegetable oil contains a significant amount of fat, which is known by the American Heart Association to increase the risk of heart disease. 

        For those craving a crunchy, salty snack, there is a better alternative: air-popped popcorn. By using an air popper, one can make the snack only using popcorn kernels. Without the oil, this form of popcorn is much healthier, with 1 cup (128 grams) containing only 30 calories. Air-popped popcorn is gluten-free and includes an insignificant amount of fats, making this food a much better option when compared to fried potato chips.  

Welch’s Fruit Snacks

           Although Welch’s Fruit Snacks do not contain ingredients detrimental to your health, it certainly is not the best choice out there. These gummies contain corn syrup, added sugars, artificial flavors, and the artificial colors Red 40 and Blue 1. According to researchers, Red 40 has been linked to ADHD in kids. A much healthier alternative to these snacks are natural fruits, such as blueberries, bananas, and strawberries. Blueberries and bananas are high in potassium and carbs, which are ample exercise fuel. For those that need a quick and easy snack or do not have access to fresh fruit, another option is That’s It Fruit Bars, which contain nothing but fruit, and are easy to carry around. They can be found at Costco and other grocery stores. 

Snickers

          Snickers bars are advertised as a snack to eat when one is hungry. However, these bars should be the last thing someone consumes when hungry. One serving of this “snack” contains 250 calories, 4.5 grams of saturated fat, artificial flavors, and a whopping 28 grams of added sugar. These bars are nutritionally harmful when compared to other snacks. Instead, an energy bar made with protein would be a better alternative. Not only are they healthier, they tend to keep one’s stomach full, and usually do not contain added sugars.