Salt and Sugar and Fat, Oh My!
SALT AND SUGAR AND FAT, OH MY!
“Honey, eat your vegetables.”
“Don’t forget to drink your milk, Buddy!”
“Green beans first; then you can have dessert.”
…etc….
Recognize those quotes? They’re from the good old days when you were in Second Grade. Eating healthy was easy back then: just eat everything on your plate, and remember to ask Mom before you have a Popsicle.
Nowadays, as soon as you get home from school, you kick off your shoes and make a beeline to the kitchen…and its treasure chest of potato chips.
Teenagers always seem to be hungry, especially boys. But let’s admit it: stuffing your face everyday with cookies and soda won’t make you into a he-man or a superwoman. Read on if you would like an occasional alternative to junk food.
Healthy Snacks for the Fellow Teenager:
- Greek yogurt: It’s filling, healthy, and a good substitute for pudding. My favorite brand is Chobani Greek Yogurt, found at Costco and other stores. Fresh fruit can be found at the bottom of each cup of this nonfat yogurt.
- Fruit smoothie: What can beat a refreshing smoothie--especially on a muggy August day? Try this quick, simple recipe: place one-cup fruit into a blender. Add 1/3 cup milk and two or three ice cubes. Puree until smooth.
- Toast: For a more filling snack, add some honey or a scoop of jam (preferably free of artificial colors and preservatives) to your buttered toast.
- Homemade Popsicles: You probably made these as a kid. Why not do it again? Scoop a little frozen yogurt into the bottom of a paper cup. Insert a food-safe stick into the frozen yogurt, pour in 100% fruit juice, and freeze until firm. Then just tear away the paper cup and enjoy a cool treat.
- Oatmeal Cookies: These are even healthier when homemade, and make for a great treat after lunch. For a recipe with only 39 calories, click on this link: http://www.tastebook.com/recipes/1394959-Low-Calorie-Oatmeal-Cookies?full_recipe=true.
- Cheese-and-Crackers: Mmmm…simple and delicious! Try low-salt crackers for a healthier twist.
- Trail Mix: Trail mix is tasty, but often includes hard and chewy ingredients not fit for teens’ braces. For a braces-friendly snack, try mixing these: sugarless dried fruit, goldfish crackers, organic granola, and soft cereal.
- Homemade Potato Chips: Fry thin potato slices in olive oil and add a dash of salt. Betcha can’t eat just one!
- Bananas and Peanut Butter: I have to admit I was a little reluctant to add this one, as I am not a big fan of bananas myself. But for those of you who are, a PB spread banana hits a homerun for a quick breakfast.
- Cooked Carrots: Don’t be surprised. If you add a little brown sugar to these, they’ll taste better than any candy in the world.
Here’s some “food for thought” for eating healthy outside of snacking:
- Put some fruit on your cereal. It makes even a sugary breakfast a little healthier.
- Soda’s alternative: try orange juice for a more sustaining option.
- Got Milk? Teenagers should drink a couple glasses each day.
- Don’t skip meals. Unless recommended by a doctor, avoid dieting. If you feel you need to cut down on junk food, simply swap a few of those milkshakes for something more nutritious.
I hope you enjoy your snacking. And remember, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a high-calorie snack from time to time.
Anny Hiestand, Teen Blogger