Better Snack Options

Local dieticians share some healthy snacking tips:

■ Choose air-popped plain popcorn instead of buttered or sweet popcorn. Plain popcorn has at least five times less fat and also contains less salt and sugar.

■ Choose corn tortilla chips instead of regular potato chips as they are lower in calories, fat and salt, and higher in fibre, making you feel full longer.

■ Choose salsa dips instead of sour cream. Salsa dips have very small amounts of fat and calories. They also contain tomatoes and onions, which are high in antioxidants like lycopene and inulin.

■ Choose almonds and pistachios instead of peanuts and cashews. Almonds and pistachios contain almost the same amount of calories as peanuts and cashews. However, they have lower amounts of saturated fat – which is bad for the heart when consumed in excess – and higher amounts of heart-friendly monounsaturated fat.

■ If you must order pizza, opt for the thin-crust variety with a tomato base.

■ Transform your breakfast cereals into healthy snacks. Place them in a bowl for your friends to enjoy. They taste good and contain fibre and zinc. Zinc is needed to maintain a strong immune system.

Here are two healthy snack recipes:

Soy dip for vegetable sticks

1. Add one block of tofu, two small packets of roasted cashew nuts, one clove of garlic, one small shallot, a quarter cup of water and a pinch of salt in a blender.
2. Blend all the ingredients and mix in the juice of half a lemon.
3. Serve with carrots or other vegetable sticks, or spread on bread.

Yogurt fruit parfait

1. Scoop one heaped tablespoon of low-fat fruit yogurt and put it at the bottom of a glass.
2. Place chunks of cut fruits such as bananas, strawberries and peaches over the yogurt.
3. Next, put a heaped tablespoon of cereals over the fruit.
4. Create as many layers as you like.

Ref. V10