A Healthy Crunch
A Healthy Crunch |
We've all been there. Eating another bland salad at lunch in an effort to eat healthy and lose weight. Day after day, it can leave you jaded, wondering where the texture has gone.
Before you reach for that bag of potato chips that are calling your name, a simple change to your diet can give you the crunch you are looking for. There are plenty of healthy alternatives that taste great, good for you and can help you reach your weight loss goals.
Fresh Fruits And Vegetables
Vegetables don't just come in the form of lettuce. Try adding baby carrots and celery to your lunches for a hearty crunch. Carrots and celery with hummus is a great mid-day snack as well. Fresh string beans or snow peas also satisfy your need for texture and are great when added raw to stir fries.
Certain fruits also offer a healthy crunch to perk up any meal. Pack sliced apples for a bit of sweetness and crunch in your lunch or as a snack. Add firm pears to your salad instead of salad dressing for another bit of sweetness and snap. Even grapes offer a nice, tactile pop, especially if you freeze them for a cool summer treat.
Nuts And Seeds
Nuts and seeds provide great energy bursts and a salty crunch, but they should be used in moderation due to their high fat and salt content. When pre-portioned out to controlled serving sizes, they make a healthy and handy snack. As long as you are not inhaling an entire can of nuts in one sitting, nuts and seeds are a great addition to your die, and are a much better choice than a bag of chips when you need something crunchy.
When You Just Have To Chips
If you just cannot sacrifice your chips at lunchtime, try switching from regular potato chips to baked chips. Regular chips are deep fried in oil, which can wreak havoc on your system and help you to pack on the pounds. Baked chips are not fried in saturated fat, which can clog arteries and leave you feeling sluggish and low energy.
Pita chips and pretzel chips are also excellent low calorie, low fat options to the old potato ship standby. Many health food and grocery stores carry air puffed chips and puffed rice cakes as well, which offer a hearty crunch with limited calories.
You don't have to sacrifice taste and crunch when you are
trying to reach your weight loss goals. There are plenty of healthy crunchy options available to keep your meals satisfying. But remember, diet alone is rarely enough to help you reach your goals. Be sure to include a regular exercise regimen with your healthy food choices.
If you find that diet and exercise aren't enough, you may find that adding a natural weight loss supplement can help you to reach your goals. Natural weight loss supplements help boost your metabolism to give your diet and exercise program the additional help it needs.
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