Festive Snack Ideas from 10GYM

The holiday season is just around the corner, and so you know what that means — family, friends, football, and of course, food!

There are plenty of delicious dishes and desserts to enjoy this time of year, and sometimes it’s hard to resist “just one more bite”. And what do you do in-between meals or during halftime of the big game? We don’t know about you, but we like to snack. That’s part of what makes the holidays so fun!

Not to put a damper on your enjoyment, but good nutritional choices are important, even over the holidays.

The good news? Snacking is actually a great way to stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels. The catch is choosing snacks that will fuel your body and not contribute to hunger pangs or an afternoon slump.

Consider our gyms in Oklahoma and Arkansas as your wellness resource! If you’re serious about fitness, here are a few ideas for health-filled snacking over the holidays – and all year-round, for that matter!

• • Be mindful of salt. If you crave peanuts and popcorn during family movie night, try the unsalted varieties. Pre-packaged and processed snacks are generally filled with unwanted salt and refined sugar. Pop your own popcorn over the stove or fireplace, eat almonds or chili-spiced pistachios, or try kale chips. They’re good!

• Fresh is always best! If you’re yearning for something sweet, try to incorporate fresh fruits into your snacks. A banana or apple with an almond butter schmear is tasty, fruit smoothies are satisfying, and so is flavored non-fat Greek yogurt (without the syrupy fruit on the bottom). Hummus with carrot or celery sticks is fun, as are lettuce wraps with plenty of veggies and spices.

Even though you’re snacking healthy, still be mindful of serving sizes and calorie counts.

This holiday season, have fun – but don’t forget your fitness goals!