Apples the Perfect Snack

Apples are a highly under rated snack food. They are portable, healthy, come in a variety of colors and are very versatile. They are relatively low in price to make them accessible to all. They combine a snack with a drink by quenching our thirst in a nice juicy snack.

They are a zero fat treat that has the benefits of containing fiber and carbohydrates. They also contain a variety of wonderful vitamins & minerals including A, C, K, Calcium and Iron just to name a few.

Make sure to clean your apples. Eating the skin is recommended as lots of the vitamin's and minerals are contained in and around the skin area.

There are a variety of different types, colors and flavors of apples, which means there is a variety to meet everyone's taste.

I think kids would greatly benefit being led towards an apple as opposed to a fruit snack, a processed apple sauce, granola bar or crackers. Sharing a less processed snack with our children is a great life lesson and well as they produce a biodegradable core instead of a plastic wrapper or container.

We can even buy apple snacks now at McDonald's as a fry alternative although these contain preservatives and come in a plastic wrapper but they are still a better option than fries.

Some other great ways to serve apples to our kids are cut into rings after removing the core. Or after peeling into a crock-pot for a wonderful homemade apple sauce. It's your more ambitious a homemade apple butter will beat grocery store jam any day. There is always Apple Crisp's or baked apples that are a sweet nutritious dessert.

Let's simplify snacking and go back to basics. Let's just slice our apples at home for our children and store them in a re-usable container. Or just hand them apples to bite on like we did as kids! Are you with me? In fact, why stop there? Let's feed them to ourselves as well.

We have gone pretty far from a simple fruit when you look at all the snacks, wiggly-things, and more you can purchase at the grocery store. Let's complete the circle. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced that we can't go wrong. Cheaper, less processed, no garbage, a variety of colors and flavors and ways to prepare. We can feel good about what we are feeding ourselves and our families.

The apple might just be one of those near perfect foods.

Low Calorie Snacks: Recipe Ideas for Tasty, Healthy Snacking Choices

Low calories snacks can be a great alternative when you’re trying to lose weight or maintain your weight. Of course, they aren’t always the most appetizing options available and often don’t keep you full enough to forgo other non-healthy items later in the day. The good news is there are many tasty and healthy low calories snacks for adults which can not only keep your taste buds happy but also keep you from getting hungry between meals.
Choose Filling Snack Foods: Studies show there are certain types of foods which can make you feel fuller for longer periods of time. If you want to stick to your diet program or plan, it’s important to feel full so you don’t binge between meals. Foods which are high in fiber are the best options, as scientists know fiber works with the body to keep you feeling full for longer periods of time.
Choose Simple and Easy Foods: If you have to take an hour for the preparation of your snack, chances are you won’t force yourself to eat it very often. After all, who has an hour each day to make snack? When thinking of snacks, choose recipes or preparations which require very little time. Easy options include fresh fruit and vegetables with low calorie yogurt dips. Keep these things available in your home or office so you can quickly grab them to satisfy your hunger without wrecking your diet plan.
Choose to Portion Control Healthy Snacks: When eating snack, portions count! So, keep your snacks in small portions to calm your craving but also keep you within your required low-calorie range. The best options to go for if you have trouble with portions are the pre-packaged 100 calorie options at your grocery store. Companies like Quaker and Nabisco make it easy for adults to get low calorie snacks without requiring much thought or effort. With these incredibly delicious and easy options, you have no excuses!
Choose Small Indulgences on Any Eating Plan or Diet: Sure, you can have a sweet or “forbidden” treat every now and again before or after your meal. But again, you must think about eating a small amount of high calorie foods, to turn them into a low calorie snack option. If you don’t think you can control yourself to eat just a small amount, skip it altogether.