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5 Healthy Snack Swaps You Can Make

By making healthy snack swaps, you are also less likely to experience the dreaded sugar crash in the afternoon and may even end up sleeping better and having more energy. With that in mind, here are 5 healthy snack swaps you can make to your diet!

Snacks can help to keep you fueled, focused and satisfied during the day and in between meals, but they can also be packed full of added sugar and artificial ingredients, which can greatly increase your calorie intake. Making smart and healthy snack swaps can increase your fibre and protein intake, whilst also improving the nutritional value of your daily diet.

Try These Healthy Snack Swaps!

Swap Cheese and Crackers for Snack Canapes

The mix of tangy cheese with salted crackers is a much-loved pairing and cheese and crackers tends to be an after-dinner snack for many people. However, this snack can quickly add up in terms of calories and fat intake, making it a less than ideal choice if you’re trying to be more snack conscious.

If you can’t give up your beloved cheese and crackers, but want to make them healthier, then try this snack canape idea instead for a healthy snack swap. Take 3 water crackers, 15 g of cheddar cheese (tip: use a potato peeler to get thin, melt in your mouth, slices and reduce your calorie intake), diced gherkins and a tsp of pickle. Spread the pickle over the three crackers, add your shavings of cheese and top with diced gherkins for a tasty snack that is just over 100 kcals.

Swap Crisps for Popcorn

Crisps tend to have a high-calorie count and also contain sodium and fat. This crunchy snack is a popular addition to lunchboxes, but they are typically void of protein and fibre, making them quite a nutrient-empty snack. Instead of crisps, try popcorn instead to satisfy your crunchy snack cravings. This healthy snack swap is a source of fibre and is relatively low in calories, making it the perfect snack addition to your diet.

Swap a PBJ Sandwich with Crudites and Peanut Butter

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a popular and much-loved snack all over the world, combining crunchy savoury peanut butter with sweet jam, on top of fluffy slices of bread. Whilst it is a popular snack choice, it can be calorie-heavy and offers very little in terms of nutrition. Peanut butter on its own is a great source of protein, so there are some healthy snack swaps you can make so that you can still enjoy peanut butter as part of your diet. Apple and peanut butter is a fantastic pairing and is a great snack to enjoy any time of day to keep you going until your next meal. Simply slice up an apple and get 2 tsps of peanut butter, with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and dip the slices in for a tasty snack.

You could also make banana and peanut butter sandwiches by slicing up a banana into thick, coin width slices. Then, top half of the sliced with a small amount of peanut butter, adding the other half of the sliced banana on top for a protein-packed snack that is perfect for mid-afternoon or before the gym.

Swap Chocolate Biscuits for Plain (or Homemade!)

For many people, especially those who work in offices, biscuits are a common mid-morning snack, often paired with a cup of tea or coffee. However, chocolate biscuits can be calorie-heavy and are unlikely to satisfy any hunger cravings, leaving you to eat more later on. Even choosing a plain biscuit selection instead of chocolate biscuits can drastically reduce your calorie intake and can be a healthier option, cutting out up to 30 calories per biscuit.

If you want to make a healthy snack swap, then why not try making your own biscuits instead? This way, you can control exactly what ingredients you put into the biscuits. Instead of sugar, you could add honey. Instead of butter, coconut oil is a good substitute. You could even swap out the flour for oats and make healthy flapjack style biscuits – perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee!

Swap Fruit Juice for Infused Water

Juice is a popular drink choice for many people, who include it as part of their daily diet and a way to increase their hydration levels. However, many juices are full of concentrated sugar, meaning that they are high in calories, also. Fruit juice tends to not include any fibre, and whilst fruit juice counts towards your 5-a-day, it takes out most of the nutritional benefits that eating fruit whole has. Whilst drinking plenty of fluid throughout the day is important, the types of fluid you are drinking is just as important, so as fruit juice is full of sugar, it can have negative impacts on your diet and hydration levels.

Instead of fruit juice, fruit-infused water is a better alternative and is a healthy snack swap. Slice pieces of citrus fruits, such as lemon, limes and oranges, and let it infuse in a jug or glass of water in the fridge. Then, you can take a drink as needed. Not only does this add a great burst of flavour, but also aids your hydration.

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