Healthy Alternatives to Snack Food - Nutritious & Budget-Friendly (Page 2 of 2)

Try replacing canned dips and cheese sauces with salsa, hummus, guacamole or Smoky Bean Dip. Commercially available, dips are usually high in fat and don't provide much nutritionally. Salsa and guacamole are better options that provide vitamin rich vegetables, while hummus and Smoky Bean Dip are made of beans which are good sources of protein and fiber.

How to Make Easy Smoky Bean Dip

Ingredients

• 1 can fat free refried beans (Check the ingredients to make sure the brand you are choosing does not contain lard.)
• 1 Tbsp liquid smoke
• 1/2 chopped red onion (optional)
• 1 clove garlic (optional)

Directions

• Mix all ingredients in a pot on low until hot.
• Serve immediately.

Guacamole and hummus are delicious choices for dips, however, they do contain a significant amount of monosaturated fats ("good" fats). If you are trying to limit your total fat intake, these may be dips you'll want to avoid. On the other hand, if you are trying to eat healthier, you might want to try these. For more information about monosaturated fats, please see this article: Monosaturated Fats: The Healthy Fat. In any case, they are both healthier and less expensive than commercially-prepared high fat dips.

Instead of frozen pizza snacks, try English Muffin Pizzas. Pizza snacks, like Totino's Pizza Rolls, have an outrageously high saturated fat and sodium content according to the nutritional information found on the boxes. English muffins, if you use the whole grain variety, provide whole grains, while the vitamin content of your pizzas depend on which toppings you elect to use.

How to Make English Muffin Pizzas

Ingredients

• 1 package of English Muffins, preferably whole grain, sliced in half
• Pizza sauce
• Toppings: minced garlic, fresh spinach, mushrooms, peppers, mozzarella cheese (optional), or whatever else you'd like on your pizza

Directions

1. Preheat your broiler.
2. Toast the English Muffins in a toaster.
3. Place face up on a cookie sheet.
4. Spread each with pizza sauce.
5. Add toppings.
6. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. If you decide to use cheese, broil until cheese is melted.

Instead of popcorn, try edamame. Edamame is a delicious and healthy snack of soybeans still in the pod. These are great while watching a movie, which can sometimes lead to mindless eating. Soybeans are low in calories and fat, in addition to other health benefits, so you can eat all you want. They are available in the frozen section of the grocery store, both in the pod and out of the pod. For more information on the benefits of soy, see this article, Health Benefits of Soy: The Power Behind the Beans.

Instead of eating party mix (like Chex), make your own trail mix with a variety of dried fruits like raisins, apricots and dates, your favorite nuts, and some chocolate chips.