10 Healthy Snacks to Reduce Stress

Comfort food doesn't have to be bad for you. When you're feeling down, try one of the many healthy snacks. Check out the best 10 healthy snacks to reduce stress.

When you're feeling down, fast food or sugary drinks aren't the best option. Keep your comfort foods restricted to the healthy snacks list that can help you deal with tension in a more natural way. Try the best 10 healthy snacks that reduce stress.

Nuts

Try a nut mix as a healthy snack that quickly reduces stress. Almonds help you with their content of B and E vitamins, cashews give you zinc that helps fight depression while pistachios and walnuts lower blood pressure.

Oranges

The high vitamin C content in oranges gets them a top spot on the healthy snacks list. The vitamin doesn't only give your immune system a boost, it can also reduce blood pressure and cortisol levels.

Turkey

Next time you're thinking about getting fast food, choose a turkey sandwich. Rich in the L-tryptophan amino acid, turkey meat has a calming and relaxing effect. Eat it with whole wheat bread and it's even more potent.

Oatmeal

For some people, oatmeal is the top choice on the healthy snacks list to reduce stress. The complex carbohydrates in oatmeal increase serotonin production, that relieves stress and improves your mood fast.

Dried Apricots

Magnesium is a great muscle relaxant and it doubles up as a stress reliever. Add dried apricots on any healthy snacks list. They have the same amount of magnesium and calories as the fresh fruit, but are easier to snack on.

Avocados

Rich in potassium and monounsaturated fats, avocados are a good stress reliever because they contain the healthy omega-3 fatty acids which improve brain function, along with vitamin E, beta-carotene and folate.

Berries

With high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C, all berries can help relieve stress and improve your concentration. Blueberries are an especially potent healthy snack that relieves stress.

Salmon

Not really a snack, more of a small meal, salmon is packed with omega-3 acids that have an excellent effect in reducing the levels of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.

Dark Leafy Greens

From broccoli to kale and spinach, dark green vegetables offer a precious combination of vitamins and minerals. Toss a quick salad of dark leafy greens when you want one of the most healthy snacks that also relieve stress.

Tea

While not exactly a filling snack, green tea and herbal tea can be very soothing in times of stress. Go for the high antioxidants content of green tea or for the calming effect of chamomile tea and keep both on your healthy snacks list for when you're feeling stressed.

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Healthy Vending Machine Snacks

When your stomach starts rumbling between meals, you know it's time for a snack. And since vending machines are placed almost everywhere, from schools and offices to cinemas and airports, solving your cravings is so at hand. However, make sure you choose healthy vending machine snacks, whether you want to control your hunger or simply get a boost of energy.

For a snack to be healthy it must have less than 220 calories per serving, less than 35% of calories from fat, excepting nuts, no trans fat, less than 1.5g of saturated fat, and less than 35% sugar by weight. Besides, it is important that it contains essential vitamins for the body, as well as fiber, iron, protein, and calcium. However, with the abundance of possibilities available - and we must admit that some of them are really irresistible and tempting - choosing healthy snacks might be a tricky business. Take a look at these next healthy vending machine snacks and next time try to make the right on-the-go choice.

Nuts

When it comes to nuts there are numerous health benefits that one could mention. Cashews, walnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios represent one of the healthiest snacking options. Nuts are rich in fiber, vitamins and healthy, monounsaturated fats, lowering blood cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Besides, nuts can also lower blood pressure due to arginine, a substance found in the type of protein in nuts. Choose the raw versions and make sure you don't exaggerate!

Vegetables

Well, since it is kind of hard to avoid vending machines, at least we should try to opt for those snacks which are chock-full with all the necessary nutrients. And it seems that with the new vending machines emerging, organic juices, smoothies, fresh pineapples and bananas, and vegetable sticks can successfully replace sodas, chips, cookies and candies.

Seeds and dried fruits

Finding the best snack can indeed be a challenge. Seeds are a healthier snack option if you want to calm down your growling stomach. For example, sunflower seeds are packed-full with Vitamin E and Vitamin B1, while pumpkin seeds are rich in magnesium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, tryptophan, copper, and Vitamin K. You can also go for dried fruits. Raisins provide 70% pure fructose and are fat and cholesterol free, low in sodium, and are a source of fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, calcium, iron and potassium, while apricots are a tremendous source of dietary fiber and beta-carotene, but also vitamin A and C.

Tea and water

Specialists say that it is hard to distinguish between being thirsty and being hungry. Therefore, we should try drinking water and wait 20 to 30 minutes in order to see if we are still hungry. Water is a vital nutrient, irreplaceable when it comes to numerous bodily functions and processes. If you're not so much into plain water, have a tea. Unsweetened, of course!

Whole grain baked chips and crackers

When you are looking for a healthy on-the-go snack, you might also consider some baked chips or crackers. Studies show that whole grains protect against cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions. In addition, they are a source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other healthy nutrients. Pay attention to the food label or search for certain types of whole-grain flour as the main ingredient such as 'whole wheat.'

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Best Healthy Snacks for Kids

Kids love snacking, but giving them a few healthy options is the right way to start them on a healthy eating path. Try a few ideas for fun healthy snacks for kids and learn a few tips on how to curb unhealthy snacks.

Having a designated snack area is very important, since kids will overeat when they're allowed to have snacks in front of the TV. Make sure you don't have any junk food available to your children, but plenty of easy healthy snacks instead which they can select themselves.

Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids

Fruits and vegetables should be your first priority when it comes to fun healthy snacks for kids. Most children love dipping, so use a low-fat dip for both vegetables and fruit slices.

For vegetables like celery sticks, carrots or pepper slices, use hummus, low fat ranch dressing or a bean dip. When it comes to healthy snacks for kids, the best dips for fruit include honey, yogurt or even applesauce. When you've got extra dip, you can also let your kids have whole wheat crackers or healthy tortilla chips with them.

Fruit and yogurt are perfect healthy snacks for kids on the go and with a banana and a low-fat yogurt your kid may feel full for hours.

Making your own trail mix is another way to ensure giving your children easy healthy snacks. Mix plain popcorn with dried fruits, nuts and seeds. By doing it yourself, you can keep the sugar and salt content in check and your kids can also get to choose from the healthy ingredients to make their perfect blend.

Healthy Snacks for Kids to Make

Mini sandwiches in fun shapes are a great way to let your children make their own snacks. Provide healthy ingredients, from cheese to lean meat, along with whole-wheat bread and cookie cutters. Let your kids make their own mini sandwiches in fun shapes.

Fruit kebabs are another simple way to get your children excited for healthy snacks. Use frilled toothpicks and stick fresh fruit and small pieces of cheese on them.

Making mini pizzas can be very fun for kids and the least they can do is spread the tomato sauce themselves. Making pizza one of the healthy snacks for kids isn't hard, as long as you use a whole pita, low-fat mozzarella and topping that includes lean meat and vegetables.

Frozen treats are always fun healthy snacks for kids and they don't have to be loaded with sugar. Frozen grapes and bananas make for great snacks that are much healthier than ice cream or most frozen yogurts.

See also:
Ensure Your Child a Healthy Diet
10 Healthy Snacks to Reduce Stress
School Snacks for Weight Loss

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Very Low Calorie Snacks for Weight Loss

Learn how to make the best snacking options with these very low calorie foods for weight loss. Embed them into your daily menu and notice the visible slimming impact a similar nutritional plan will have on your organism and silhouette.

In order to succeed with your weight loss project it is important to embrace a healthy eating plan. This can help you lose a few stubborn pounds without having to struggle with starvation. Moreover, the following very low calorie foods for weight loss are packed with minerals and anti-oxidants.

These will guarantee the proper functioning of your metabolism and protect you from any severe diseases that affect your digestive system. Learn more about the best solutions for the quickest weight loss.

Carrots

Carrots have 35kcal/100g and these veggies also contain a miraculous element that plays a huge role in the perfect functioning of your metabolism. Beta-carotene and Alpha-carotene are some of the A-list ingredients to eliminate toxins from your organism. Moreover, have them raw or steamed depending on your preferences. Carrots when consumed on a daily basis will definitely make you feel more energetic and healthy.

Mango

Mangos have 576 kcal/100g and are perfect to load your organism with potassium, vitamin C and E along with fiber. Consume these healthy fruits for the energy boost mangoes offer to your body.

Those who are constantly tempted by sugary treats can consider these ingredient as the perfect snack to tame their cravings.

Hard Boiled Eggs

One hard boiled egg contains no more than 76 calories. Protein is essential to keep our metabolism in top shape.

Therefore, make a few boiled eggs for the main meals and pack your organism with A, D, B and E vitamins along with calcium and iron. These essential ingredients will give you a sense of satiety and serve as the perfect energy bomb for your body.

Olives

1 oz of green olives has 41 kcal. Therefore, it is highly recommended to swap any sugary treats with this low calorie snack. This nutritive element has endless benefits including monounsaturated fats, antioxidants as well as vitamins and minerals. Besides protecting your body from severe diseases, olives can also keep you on the right track of losing a few pounds.

Fruity Popsicle

Prepare your own fruity Popsicle by mixing a delicious flavor with sugar free juice. Place this mixture into the freezer and eat these treats when in need for a tasty reward. Each Popsicle contains no more than 5 kcal, as a consequence, it is the perfect alternative to cut back on calories and lose weight in a healthy way. The only condition to guarantee their positive impact on your slimming project is to use only sugar-free juices.

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Diet Friendly Snacks and Craving Choices

Constant cravings are one of the aspects that make sticking to a diet extremely challenging. Finding healthy substitutes that won't damage our daily calorie balance is crucial if you wish to avoid diet slip-ups along with all the guilt associated with them, so experiment with some of the options below when temptation strikes.

Getting a leaner figure requires certain sacrifices and sometimes giving up or greatly reducing our favorite foods is a somewhat mandatory choice. The mere thought of not being able to eat what we want whenever we want can trigger surprisingly intense cravings that can be hard to avoid. Planning ahead and thinking of ways to avoid or solve sticky situations is essential for the success of any weight loss plan, since it can save you from having to do damage control.

Although we might have become accustomed to see food cravings as the enemy, they can be valuable clues our body uses to signal possible deficiencies. Understanding the triggers and choosing delicious, low calorie snacks for our needs can be a much better alternative than simply trying to resist every temptation that crosses our path. The following snack alternatives can help you satisfy your cravings in a healthier way:

Rice Pudding
If you are looking for a classic sweet treat that won't throw your calorie allowance off balance, rice pudding can be a great alternative. The fact that there is even a diet named after this popular dessert is a great indication that this can be a good alternative for satisfying your sweet cravings. If you wish to keep the calorie content low, you can limit the portion size and use low calorie sweeteners, but this filling dessert is a great option even without substantial changes.

Frozen yogurt
Creamy desserts are synonym with high-calorie, so making sure that you find a high substitute is more than recommendable. Frozen yogurt is a great substitute for ice cream, and can work especially well if you like fruit ice creams. You can add fruit juice or a dab of honey to make it more palatable.

String Cheese
For some, cheese is the miracle ingredient that makes virtually everything taste better, but also one of the things that adds lots of calories to many dishes. Still, you don't have to swear off it completely, just to be more mindful about what you choose. String cheese or cottage cheese can be great alternatives for getting the flavor you crave without massive amounts of calories.

Roasted pumpkin seeds
Although salt cravings are very common, sometimes the texture is one of the aspects that we miss the most. If you are trying to cut back on highly processed salty treats, pumpkin seeds can be an alternative that will not only give you the experience you crave, but also a myriad of nutrients such as iron, magnesium and protein. Add these crunchy nutrient-filled snacks to your diet for an easy and healthy crunchy treat alternative.

Fruits
You heard it a million times before, but this doesn't mean that this suggestion is any less valuable. Fruits are nature's own 100 calorie packs and they are filled with antioxidants, important photochemical and a myriad of vitamins and minerals you need in your diet. Choose variety to ensure that you don't miss out on any crucial nutrients and to avoid boredom.

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