Healthy Snacks minus fruit and veg

[Bree66]

Hi, does anyone out there have any healthy snack ideas that dont always involve fruit and veg. If I see another carrot stick I might scream. Also my down fall WAS crisps is there any alternative out there.

Many Thanks x

[OlsBean]

Popcorn, we invested in an air popper (£20 ish) and now often have popcorn as an alternative to crisps. There are some nice savoury flavourings that work quite well, like Salt N Vinegar and BBQ. You'll find some nutritional facts and also recipe ideas over at popcorn.org/ if you are interested.

Nuts and Seeds are another, though they are calorie dense something to be aware of if you are watching your waistline but very nutritious in a number of ways.

If normal fruit is boring you, you could try freezing things like Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries and Grapes (although grapes are higher in sugar), they taste quite different frozen, almost like mini frozen desserts.

HTH

[OlsBean]

I have not personally as I am not diabetic and don't have the equipment to test my sugar levels. Naked Air popped popcorn is reported to have a GI of around 55, it also contains a reasonable amount of fibre (about 20%).

It's also claimed to contain high quantities of the antioxidant polyphenol.

[OlsBean]

I believe that's because of the wide variety of flavours and different methods of actually 'Popping' the corn used rather than the actual Glycemic Index of the corn itself. You would expect the values to be different for homemade air popped corn with a sprinkling of cinnamon or a pinch of salt to be different to oil popped corn encrusted in caramelised sugar. The same could be applied to an Apple the GI of which would different to that of a Toffee Apple for example.

[OlsBean]

Air Popped Popcorn has a GI of 55 which you've stated is lowest GI value of popcorn based on that, the air-popping does not increase its GI value.

[OlsBean]

A few sites give the value.

US Department of Agriculture for one (Not that I particular trust the US Government or its figures)

ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?...

[Divided]

I've had to ban snacking altogether. It's the only way for me to stay on track. When I want snacks, I have a green tea. I drink a lot of tea!

[scater82]

popcorn and things like rice crackers are a healthier snack.

here you can find a list of 10 snacks that are 100cal or less from the NHS choices website

nhs.uk/Livewell/loseweight/...

If you are feeling peckish between meals, simply having a drink could stop the craving.

Baked crisps are generally lower in fat and calories than your normal fried crisps. probably very little difference in taste and price.

[jules2105]

Hi

we tend to have low fat crisps, ryvita or min babybells

Jules x

[Hidden]

Snack a Jacks are good:

bloom-london.com/brand/snac...

a healthier alternative to crisps

[Sometimes_runs]

Home-made popcorn! Easy-peasy and delicious and full of fibre. (We even sneak it into cinemas!)

[MaggieAnne]

Try savoury rice cakes as an alternative to crisps and savoury biscuits. They are available in flavours such as cheese, and salt and vinegar, and these varieties do not need buttering to enjoy! They are definitely available in supermarkets in the warmer months, but can be harder to find in the winter. Some supermarkets do their own brand versions, too. They are also a great alternative to dry crispbreads and crackers.

[MaggieAnne]

I have a recipe for a banana cake that is low fat and low sugar but still tasty and moist. It can be wrapped in cling film and kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or can be sliced, wrapped and frozen. Here goes:

Ingredients.

12 tablespoons Sucralose sweetener (Splenda spoonful granulated, or Aldi and Asda do their own cheaper)

3 oz, 90g Flora buttery

2 large eggs, beaten well

85ml skimmed milk Plus 2 teaspoons lemon or lime juice or cider or wine vinegar stirred in (It curdles. Don't be put off)

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or 2 teaspoons essence

5 small or 4 large mashed over ripe bananas (freeze until you have enough, defrost, snip end off and squeeze out like toothpaste then they don't need mashing)

10oz plain flour (if you substitute some wholemeal add a little more milk)

1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate powder

0.5 teaspoon salt or salt substitute

Method.

Cream fat and sweetener together until light and fluffy.

Add beaten eggs, vanilla, milk and juice or vinegar. Stir in.

Add mashed or frozen and defrosted bananas and stir into the mixture.

Mix salt, bicarbonate and flour together and fold into the batter.

Put into a prepared 2lb loaf container and bake at 350 F, 180 C, 160 C Fan, or Gas 4, for 1 hour until golden brown and test with a skewer. It should come out clean, if not cook for a few minutes more and test again.

Leave the cake in the container to cool for ten minutes then turn out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling. One cake should make twelve 1cm slices. Enjoy! There are no lumps of fruit visible and who would think a slice of cake can be as healthy as a slice of toast with a teaspoon of margarine and a third of a banana on it?

[MagdalenaR]

Yes, we know that, but a few times in a month it will not make a big difference. Nobody is talking about eating it every day.