Snacks!

I love my snacks. Choosing which ones I want to eat depends on many things: my frame of mind, my stress level, whose company I’m enjoying, which ones I have in my home, etc. My favorite snacks are healthy, measured and taste amazing. My ‘other’ favorite snacks are not healthy, come pre-packaged and taste amazing. Look. I could tell you I never eat any of the ‘other’ snacks but I’d be lying. I respect all of you too much to fib. I like my unhealthy snacks too. I do make decisions on which ones I want based on the number of carbohydrates in the snack. Having healthy snacks in the house is instrumental in which choice I make and takes planning. Nine times out of ten, groceries (and snacks) get done on my way home from work when I’m tired and hungry. I literally have to talk to myself in the grocery store when I end up in the snack aisle, sometimes even out loud. Reading the nutrition facts label helps me to make good decisions, most of the time. The amount of carbs listed below is an approximation across many brands.

My favorite healthy snacks

My favorite snacks chosen most of the time - all are approximately ½ cup or 4oz:

1. Greek Yogurt (2-5% fat) - approximately 13g carb
2. Blueberries or blackberries - 14g carb
3. Cherry or grape tomatoes, different varieties - 5-7g carb
4. Strips of multicolored sweet peppers - 4-5g carb
5. Popcorn - 8g carb
6. Small square 70% dark chocolate - 5g carb

My favorite not-so-healthy snacks

My ‘other’ favorite snacks chosen occasionally, difficult to control and way too many carbs- pre-packaged size:

1. Potato chips - 60g (DANGER!)
2. Muffins, grocery store baked - 45-50g (They’re HUGE!)
3. Chocolate bar - 30g (DANGER!)
4. Pop (soda) - 33g (Not Worth it)
5. Granola bar - 30g (Yum but controllable)
6. Cake, chocolate with chocolate frosting - 60 g 4 oz (DANGER!)

Please share your favorite and ‘other’ favorite snacks and how you control them.