Who’s stomach grumbles after lunch, but before it’s time for dinner? Or just before bedtime? I know mine does! Sometimes a snack is just what the doctor ordered.
Snacks are small portions of food, just enough to keep your stomach happy until it’s time for your next meal. Snacks that include FIBER and PROTEIN are the best at keeping you full and satisfied.
So, fiber, what is it anyways?
Fiber is found in…the skins of fruits and vegetables, whole-grains and cereals, and nuts and legumes. Your body does not digest fiber, but fiber plays an important role in your digestive health. It also helps clean-out “the bad-guy” cholesterol in your gut. Here are a couple examples of fiber-rich foods. Which are your favorite?
Protein is another important part of your snack. Protein molecules are like the doctors and construction workers in your body – they help build and repair damaged tissues and keep your body strong and healthy. What protein foods are your favorite?
When you eat a meal with fiber or protein, it stays in your stomach for a longer period of time, helping your body digest the food you’ve eaten slowly. This gives you lasting energy!
Building healthy snacks is easy! Pick at least one food from the pictures above and think of something it would taste good with. Let’s use peanut butter as an example. What snacks can we create with peanut butter? Here are three ideas we came up with.
- Peanut butter + celery
- Peanut butter + banana
- Peanut butter + pretzels/crackers
Let us know what snack creations you come up with, and try some of our own!
