To keep yourself on track even when you are on the go, try getting in the habit of packing a lunch box or snack bag. By doing this, if you do not happen to get back home in time to make a proper lunch, like a healthy salad or smoothie, you can at least make sure you are making healthy choices throughout the day.
Healthy Choices For Your Snack Bag
A quick and easy snack to pack is a bag of baby carrots. A cup of baby carrots only has 70 calories, is loaded with Vitamin A and provides 20% of the RDA for vitamin C, 4% of iron and 4% of calcium. Carrots can also help cure a sweet tooth and a yearning for something crunchy!
Another easy item to grab and pack are a handful of unsalted almonds. Almonds provide a few more calories and will stay with you longer. One handful of almonds has approximately 160 calories, are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients like calcium and magnesium needed for strong bones, vitamin E and phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer.
For a healthy drink, try taking along a bottle of unsweetened coconut water. Coconut water contains no fat and only has abut 80 calorie in one bottle. In addition to water and sugar from the coconut, it also contains potassium and magnesium. Consuming foods or beverages high in potassium may help reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke.
If your stomach can tolerate dried fruits, dried bananas, apricots, raisins, or cranberries are a great snack to pack. Again, make sure the dried fruit is not coated in sugar. If your stomach cannot tolerate the sulphates in dried fruit, pack a fresh orange, apple or pear.
Granola bars can be candy bars disguised as a healthy snack, so beware of these. Just because they say “All Natural” or “Low in Fat” does not mean they are good for you. Granola bars can be loaded in sugar and be about as nutritious as eating a Snickers bar.
The most important point is to pack a lunch or snack bag so that you do not make poor choices like stopping off at McDonald’s for an ice cream cone in the middle of your day.