Make Healthy Choices Outside of Your Home
Despite your best planning, you may find yourself without anything to eat. On a long drive, your only option for groceries might be a gas station or convenience store. Suddenly, you’re limited to prepackaged items and questionable fruit. How can you still snack responsibly?
Samantha Schraeter, RD, CDCES, a registered dietitian in lifestyle medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, Lincoln in New York City, says to look at package labels and make sure the snack has at least 3 grams (g) of fiber.
“High-fiber snacks help [reduce] cholesterol, and [fiber] also increases satiety,” says Schraeter. “If you feel more full after your snack, that can also help prevent overeating.”
If you like energy bars, Schraeter recommends Lärabars, Nature Valley Protein bars, or Navitas Power Snacks.
If you need the comforting crunch of a chip, you can find high-fiber, low-sodium vegetable chips at health-food stores and upscale supermarkets. Kale chips, fresh-popped popcorn made using olive or canola oil, nuts, and crunchy roasted chickpeas can also be great options.
Individually packaged servings of some of the snacks mentioned above, like hummus and guacamole, are great, but Schraeter recommends looking at the nutrition label before purchasing.
Read the full article here
