Late afternoon is a time when you are usually hungry for a quick bite. It may be too early for tea and too late for the second round of lunch. In such situations, you often tend to crave for unhealthy snacks that your doctor has firmly prohibited. Hunger pangs are common amongst the seniors and there are alternatives to ensure that your hunger is sated healthily. The healthy replacements are easily available in the market and they contain multiple nutrients constituting a healthy diet. These healthy replacements include:
a) Bananas Bananas are a staple food that can be found in most supermarkets. It contains essential nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin B6, fiber, potassium, and manganese. In many cases, you may have a deficiency of these nutrients as you age. Hence, eating bananas will replenish these nutrients in your body.
b) Raisins Raisins are widely used in desserts, oatmeals, and yogurt. You can also eat raw raisins, right out of the packet, when you are hungry. They may be small in size, but raisins are loaded with plenty of nutrients and have several health benefits such as reducing acidity, lowering constipation, improving ocular health, and much more. These health benefits are due to the presence of nutrients like iron, fiber, antioxidants, copper, and B complex vitamins.
c) Coconuts Coconut is a fruit that grows in the coastal areas. It consists of many vital nutrients such as fiber, triglycerides, manganese, and copper. These nutrients aid in boosting your metabolism, lowering the amount of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), and improving bowel movements. Hence, coconuts are a great source of nutrients which add a lot of value to your diet.
d) Fox Nuts Fox nuts are a guilt-free snack as they have fewer calories, less sodium, and less fat content. It also helps satisfy your cravings between meals. Diabetics can also eat fox nuts as it has less sugar content and is filled with necessary fibers.
e) Beetroots One of the main reasons beetroots are the perfect snack is that it helps you maintain a healthy weight and also aids in maintaining low blood pressure. It is also rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, magnesium, sodium, and phosphorus.
f) Chickpeas Chickpeas are a nutritious pulse that originated from the Mediterranean and Middle-East. They are rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. The significant amount of vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B-6 keeps your heart healthy.
g) Kiwis Kiwis are alimentary fruits with a sweet flavor and multiple vitamins. Due to their high fiber content, they aid in healthy digestion processes. Also, the significant presence of vitamin C boosts your immune system.
h) Blackberries Blackberries are tasty, easy to consume, and have high nutritional content. It has vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients promote digestion, help build a better immunity system, and reduce cholesterol.
i) Cranberries Cranberries should be a part of your daily diet as they contain the vital antioxidant, proanthocyanidins. This helps prevent various diseases, and the presence of vitamin A, C, and K ensure a low-calorie content in the fruit.
j) Okras Although okras are an ideal choice to cook curries and starters, they also make for an excellent snacking choice. The antioxidants present in okras ensure that you feel less tired throughout the day and the nutrient content gives you your required daily dose of healthy nutrients.
Fun Nutritious Snacks
Although these are healthy replacements for unhealthy snacks, it can be boring to eat just a small portion of raisins or a modest bowl of grated coconut or even a sliced banana. We decided to solve this dilemma by combining these healthy replacements in fun foods aka cookies! Unlike the regular cookies that are unhealthy and can ruin your healthy diet, these cookies are perfect for a 3 pm snack. You can also have them with your evening tea or as a light dessert post lunch. These delightful cookies are available in several sumptuous flavors like:
- Belgian Chocolate
- Oats and Raisin
- Premium Coconut
- Peanut Butter
- Choco Chip Banana
- Whole-wheat Choco Chip
Each of these recipes has been crafted after thorough research, thus, combining the best of several healthy ingredients and the goodness of traditional cookies. They provide essential nutrients such as copper, iron, fiber, B complex vitamins, vitamin B6, etc. which complement your healthy diet. One of the major concerns that many individuals face is that cookies usually get soggy or stale after a few days, if they are not stored in proper containers. In order to keep the cookies fresh, you will need an airtight container. The collapsible dry snacks container by Home Puff is one such container that is made of BPA-free, high-quality food grade silicone, and biodegradable eco-plastic. This material, combined with an effective locking system, keeps the food fresh for days. The container can be used to heat food in the microwave and it can be washed in a dishwasher. You can also use it to store food items in the freezer. The main highlight of the container is that it is collapsible when not in use. This mechanism saves up to 60% of your storage space and makes it easier to carry around in a backpack. Necessary Dose of Nutrients In the autumn of life, you should follow a diet that consists of the right nutrients. The primary source of these nutrients should be healthy food, and you should avoid unhealthy snacks. If you wish to have a nutritious snack between meals or with evening tea, open the Home Puff container and have a flavorsome cookie of your choice. This way, you can satisfy your hunger with nutrient-rich foods that are essential for your body.