Healthy Snacks for Busy Lifestyles

It is a fast-paced, busy world now-a-days, and that means there isn't usually a lot of thought put into our food. We just grab whatever is cheapest, and whatever is fastest to fill our tummies and to keep up with the filled schedules that human beings crave. We crave being busy, and we also crave sweets and savories that may not carry the good nutrients we need to carry on that busy schedule. Luckilly, I have some snacking tips that can help remedy this snacking fiasco. 

I'm not going to preach that fruit is always the better alternative for fast, healthy snacking because sometimes it really isn't. Apples are difficult because you either have to eat them whole, or cut them up. Some people can't eat fruit whole like that because of dental issues, and cutting up an apple takes a little time. So, a good, fast, and healthy fruit alternative is a fruit smoothie. I love the Bolthouse Farms fruit smoothies because not only does it have fruit in it, but it has veggies too. In a 450 mL bottle of Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness, there are 3 & 3/4 servings of fruit per bottle. I love that it is naturally sweet, made with sweet fruits and veggies in there to jam pack this smoothie with vitamins and nutrients. There are no preservatives, so the smoothie is parishable, which means that it is made with REAL fruits and vegetables, and it needs to be refrigerated. It also means that it has the best ingredients for you! It is so naturally tasty, fast, and immensely healthy for a busy individual to take with them wherever they need to go. 

Not all fruit is a bad idea for on the go snacks, Oranges can indeed be fast and they are certaily healthy. For needing to be easy and fast to fit a busy lifestyle, they are easier to peel, and softer to chew, and they just smell so good! These little clementine oranges, or smaller oranges are perfect because they can fit just about anywhere. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that should find it's way into our diets daily. Taking an orange on the go is fast, healthy, and just plain easy. You can throw the rind in the garbage, or compost, or you can save it to blend up in your smoothies. The rind always has the most nutirents in it anyway.

Now, for those that can have grain, a little pouch of Honey Nut Cheerios is a great, fast, and healthy snack. Cheerios are a fantastic heart-healthy choice, and may help lower cholesterol. If you have heart disease, or are at risk for heart disease, Honey Nut Cheerios a great heart-healthy snack. Even if you have a great heart, it doesn't hurt to take care of it with conscious snacking. Since Honey Nut Cheerios contains soluble fiber from whole-grain oats, it is perfect for snacking because everybody needs a little fiber in their diets. Fiber is great for heart health, and lowering cholesterol, so eat up a baggie of Honey Nut Cheerios in your busy day. It is a fast, and healthy way to get that fiber in your diet, and a fast and healthy way to snack. 

I recently just discovered these awesome, little packets of almond butter from Justin's. I love that they have such a simple list of ingredients right on the back of the packet. There are seriously only four ingredients in this wonderful snack. It utilizes dry roasted almonds, maple sugar, palm fruit oil*, and sea salt. Almond butter is a great alternative to peanut butter, for those who can't have peanuts. Justin's Almond Butter and Almond Butter packets are all-natural, gluten free, vegan, and have zero grams of fat. These little packets are a great snack that pack in 6 grams of protein, and they provide a boost of energy before class, or perhaps a sporting event. I love Justin's Almond Butter! I love the sweet mixed with savory, and it is enjoyable to eat. It is one of the best snacks in my book, and it is perfect for busy lifestyles. 

Of course, there are so many other healthy snack choices out there, but I thought that I would help get the ball rolling. I have changed my diet quite a bit lately, and instead of grabbing a box of crackers for a snack, I now go for fruit or protein powder with almond milk to fill my tummy. Hopefully, this post has inspired you to choose wisely when choosing snacks.

What snacks do you choose?