Worst “Healthy “Snacks And What To Replace Them With

Who eats three square meals a day these days?

Not many people.

We’re on the go, getting off to that activity, going to meetings, working long hours, some barely have time to sit down for a meal, let alone make one.

So snacking is incredibly common among many.

Snacking is not a bad thing, in fact, it can be quite good. When making sure you get all your nutrients and macro-nutrients for the day, it’s easier to break it up into smaller meals than big meals, which could possibly make you feel bloated after eating.

However, finding that “good” snack can be tough.

Popular snack foods tend to be chips, chocolate, and maybe cheese. To make this process simpler, I want to provide you with a list of the worst “healthy” snacks for weight loss/maintaining lean muscle mass.

And at the end of the email, I want to share how you can lose even more weight by signing up for my online nutrition/fitness program to get you, & KEEP YOU in the best shape ever.

Click here to discover more about this step-by-step- client based program.

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1.) Trail mix

These easy-to-purchase mixed nuts, dried fruit, and shelled chocolate candy pieces are misleading.

Nuts are good for you, right?

More than likely, the nuts that are in this are roasted. Roasted nuts alter the digestibility and their effect on satisfying your hunger.

Not to mention most the nutrients are roasted out of the nuts. Most times, dried fruit are pieces that are essentially fruit covered with sugar.

===> Instead, try a handful of raw walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds, or seeds.

Raw nuts digest slower and they swell more in our stomach fluids, creating a sense of fullness and satisfaction.

They’re also more nutritionally dense.

2.) Granola

Granola may be oats, but often they are drenched in oil, covered with sugar, maybe some dried fruit or coconut flakes are added, and then they are bait.

It’s highly delicious, highly caloric, and you’ll be more likely to go over in your daily food intake in just one serving… chances are you’ll serve yourself far more than the recommended single serving size.

===> Instead, try steel cut oats for oatmeal, topped with fresh fruit.

This will fill you up with much fewer calories and is more energy-dense than granola.

In a recent study, oatmeal was found to be the most satisfying breakfast food, leading to greater and longer lasting fullness than cereal or granola.

3.) Protein Bars

You would never refuel after a workout with a snickers bar, would you?

That’s pretty much what you’re doing with many of the protein bars on the market.

With a list of artificial ingredients, sugars and preservatives, most bars have up to 350 cals and are not nutritionally dense.

Don’t suffer unhealthy ingredients for mere protein.

===> Instead, try making a protein smoothie.

When purchasing a protein powder, look for an organic one that’s been cooled and processed.

Bio trust has an excellent protein powder that even individuals who are lactose intolerant can handle. http://primefitnesscr.biotrust.com/Shop.asp?p=OK5X

Below are two excellent post-workout protein shakes to try.

Banana split

• One serving vanilla bio trust low-carb

• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple chunks

• 1 1/2 cups water

• 1 frozen banana

• 6 frozen strawberries

• 1 teaspoon pure cocoa powder

Peaches & cream

• One serving vanilla bio trust low carb

• Half cup Greek yogurt

• 1 cup water

• 1 cup frozen peach chunks

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

4.) Dried fruit

In many cases, dried fruit might as will be candy.

Their sugar is more concentrated than fresh fruit, and manufacturers will often coat dried fruit in more sugar!

===> Instead, try fresh fruit.

Fresh fruit has more vitamins and minerals.

The calories you have from fresh fruit will be much more beneficial for your body than dried fruit, as drying decreases the nutritional value.

Fresh fruit is packed with essential nutrients that are under-consumed, including:

•potassium

•dietary fiber

•vitamin C

•folate (folic acid)

Diets rich in potassium may help to maintain a healthy blood pressure.

5.) Reduced-Fat Peanut Butter

The peanut butter manufacturers remove the naturally occurring, healthy fats from peanuts and replace them with sugar, corn syrup, and vegetable oil, which researchers found to increase heart disease risk by 23%.

And sad news ... reduced fat peanut butter usually has the same number of calories as regular peanut butter.

===> Instead, try regular peanut butter or almond butter.

Add veggies to get your fiber in for the day.

Bring fruit or raw celery sticks, baby carrots, snap peas, broccoli, and radishes in a baggie. I like to add a paper towel in the plastic baggie or container, this keeps the veggies fresh tasting.

So next time you go to the grocery store be sure to pick up some of these new or forgotten snack options and see an increase in energy, as well as a decrease in feeling bloated and inflamed.

Here's to our Journey,