On Healthy Living

First off, yeah, OK, I’ve been AWOL for a long time. It’s a busy life, and things happen that keep you from doing all the things you’d like to do, or all the things you need to do. All I can say is that I will try harder in the future. :0

In any case, it’s back to school time, and for a lot of kids that means packed lunches. A lot of grownups pack lunches too (myself included) because it’s a great way to save money and to ensure that you’re getting something nutritious when you’re really busy. You might think you don’t have time to pack a lunch, but if you can at least pack a few snacks to store in your desk for when those late afternoon munchies come on, you’ll make better choices and have more energy to boot.

Here are some ideas for quick and healthy snacks you can pack, for yourself or your kids:

* fruit cups. Fruit cups come in all sorts of varieties, from plain old peaches to fruit salad with mandarin oranges, pears, even strawberries. Look for varieties packed in light syrup, because the heavier syrup is full of sugar and other unpleasant things.

* applesause. Little cups of applesauce are a great sweet pick-me-up. Go for the all-natural brands, or for a special treat for the kids, pick applesauce flavored with other fruits.

* fresh fruit. Bananas, apples, oranges and pears travel well. Pack lots of paper towels if you’re going to be peeling an orange in your office, or peel and slice before you leave the house (store slices in a zip-top bag or other food storage container). You can also preslice apples and pears if you spritz them with lemon or lime juice after cutting to prevent browning.

* pretzels. For those who need a crunchy snack, pretzels are a good choice because they’re usually fat free. Go for low-salt varieties, and if you can find some made with whole grain, so much the better.

* nuts. There are all sorts of good reasons to eat nuts. Nuts can help lower cholesterol and may be good for your heart. Most nuts are a good source of potassium, and brazil nuts are a huge source of selenium, which forms an antioxidant in the body. Cashews and hazelnuts are good sources of copper, while macadamias, walnuts, pine nuts and pecans provide a burst of manganese. Again, look for low salt or dry roasted varieties.

* granola and other bars. The number and kinds of granola bars on the market have exploded recently. There are bars for low carb eaters, trail mix bars, meal replacement bars that taste like cake. Buy a variety of healthy ones (low calories, a little bit of fat and carbs for keeping the brain working) to find your favorites, but don’t eat a meal replacement bar as a snack, they’re way too calorie dense.

* yogurt. If you have access to a refrigerator, pack yogurt. Dairy is thought to help people lose weight, and the combination of fat, protien, calcium and other nutrients can provide a long-running burst of energy. You can even enjoy yogurt in tubes (so you don’t need a spoon) or health drinks. If you don’t like dairy, try soy yogurt. Choose varieties that are low fat, or check out the new heart healthy yogurts. Add granola, flax seeds or protien powder for an even bigger health boost.

These are just a few ideas for easy, quick, healthy snacks on the go. Next time you’re at the store, grab some of these healthy treats, and pack up little zip bags with all you need to enjoy the treat (a spoon and napkin, for instance) so all you have to do in the morning is grab a sack and go!

Sarah White wrote this on August 22nd, 2005 and filed it under Healthy Living, Healthy Cooking, Healthy Eating, Healthy Recipes, Health Foods, Vegetarian Cooking, Raw Foods |