Stop! Collaborate! …and Listen! (Yes, I just plugged Vanilla Ice!)
What you are about to read is about FOOD! Can I get an Amen? Who doesn’t love food? Who doesn’t love learning about food that’s both convenient and healthy for those on the go? What’d you say? You Googled this exact topic last night searching for an answer? You and half the population!
At least once a day, I read on social media or overhear in our Company breakroom, people sharing their best practices and methodology for eating healthy. Whether you are male or female, grocery shop to cook more at home or eat out regularly, workout often or frequent a couch potato status, most of the population is seeking optimal health in some capacity or another. If you don’t fall into that bucket and you’re not seeking optimal health (maybe you have that – GO YOU!), you’re at least seeking convenience in some way, shape, or form.
I sincerely believe the overarching theme behind healthy alternatives to our daily diet is education. How can we educate ourselves on what is healthy versus what is not? It is hard to know which snack options (or foods, in general) are a benefit to your overall health when so much gets convoluted in a sales pitch, marketing scheme, or bloggers trying to get a commission who simply don’t care what information they push out into cyber land.
So, I’ve taken it upon myself to narrow down these five healthy, convenient, no brainer snack options. In doing so, I looked at a variety of factors; many of which were geared at the Whole 30, Keto, Paleo, Gluten Free & Non-GMO. And, no, I am not going to try to convince you to do one of those diets or lifestyles. This is just simple education to help you live healthier, so relax and do not hit the “X” in the top right.
Full disclosure, I am not a doctor, allergist, or nutritionist. These are simply things that I eat personally and enjoy!
Now, without further ado….
1. Nick’s Sticks – All the goodness, none of the garbage.
Nick makes snacks sticks and jerky that start with 100% grass-fed beef and free-range turkey. Next comes a dash of organic seasoned salt, blended in his propriety recipe. The result…the cleanest and best testing snack stick you can find!
- No MSG
- No Antibiotics
- No Sugar
- No Gluten
- No Nitrates
- No Hormones
- No Artificial Colors
Unsalted Whole Cashews are my go-to! So good and easy. I could eat the entire jar in on setting. If I am ever craving something sweet, one or two handfuls of these healthy nuts hits the spot. I don’t end up at the corner bakery at 3PM with my mid-afternoon sugar tooth to get a cupcake, which ultimately costs me; financially and in calories! Cashews have the perfect crunch and taste to satisfy a sweet craving. And, talk about convenience! You can find this snack at almost any retailer, but I like to buy them in bulk.
3. A Banana with Justin’s Cinnamon Almond Butter
How convenient and handy are these little cinnamon almond butter squeeze packs!? So convenient and delicious;I eat these by themselves when I’m not eating them with a banana. The message behind the Justin’s brand is that their products are made with common sense and the highest quality. Doesn’t get more real than that! The Justin’s story began in 2004 when Justin Gold, active lifestyle lover, began crafting his very first batches to accompany him on his long bike rides. Now, Justin’s has a variety of flavors and they have included additional nuts to the mix. I haven’t even had the time to try them all there are so many now:
- Classic Almond
- Maple Almond
- Vanilla Almond
- Honey Almond
- Classic Peanut
- Honey Peanut
- Classic Cashew
- Maple Cashew
- Chocolate Hazelnut
4. SAFE + FAIR Birthday Cake Granola
If you love granola, then you’ll love this! Even if you hate granola for being bland, hard, and dry, then this Safe + Fair Granola will change your mind and tastebuds. Add this Birthday Cake Granola to your yogurt or just eat out of the bag as an on-the-go snack! Each handful is made with clean vegan ingredients with a share of ancient grains. It’s gluten-free, non-GMO, certified vegan and free of peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, soy, shellfish, and fish.
5. NAVITAS Organic Power Snacks
NAVITAS Organic Power Snacks are a truly nutritious and delicious superfood snack that will help you power through the day. They really give me that afternoon pick-me-up so many of us seek out in coffee, candy, chips, or in other unhealthy options. These snacks harness the powerful nutritional benefits of cacao powder and goji berries, providing antioxidants, minerals, and fiber. Plus, they contain no added sugar, gluten, or artificial ingredients. Trust me, these are much better than they look–I also love the blueberry flavor.
What kind of healthy snacks are your staples in the office? Connect with me on Twitter and let me know what snacks we should try, next! #TMXWellness
*The views and opinions in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Company. The author is not paid for brand endorsements of the products listed.