Surprising Facts About Healthy Snacks!

Surprising Facts About Healthy Snacks! Not as Healthy as What They Want Us to Believe

It’s not only abundantly stocked with brands screaming your name through their attractive packaging competing for your dollar, but the “healthy snack” section of your local supermarket is a web waiting to catch the unsuspecting shopper or two. Many foods in this isle are strategically placed to lure you in with a false sense of healthy branding.

If you care about what you eat, you might want to keep your eyes peeled for some common “healthy” snacks incognito.

1. Vegan Protein Bars

Aside from keeping those with a gluten intolerance happy, having no GMO content, and actually being vegan-friendly, protein bars like this are highly processed and not that great for you after all. The main ingredients, soy protein and puffed soy nuggets, are not accepted by your body as well as other protein and can actually adjust your hormone balance. They are also loaded with artificial sweeteners.

Suggested alternative: instead of grabbing for a ready-made, processed snack in this form, try opting for a handful of raw nuts and berries instead.

2. Dairy-Free Ice Cream

Check out the sugar content in these big boys! Generally, they are also loaded with preservatives, artificial flavours, and fillers that can lead to gut health issues if eaten regularly.

Suggested alternative: whip up your own dairy-free ice cream instead. The Academy of Culinary Nutrition has 20 dairy-free ice cream recipes you might like to check out online.

3. Ready Made Smoothies

Okay, you can be excused for thinking a natural bottle of juice is good for you, however just be sure to check out the sugar content. A smoothie with ingredients of mango puree, apple, orange and lemon juices, banana puree, natural flavours and beta carotene (which is vitamin A), sounds great but it is all just fruit juice and therefore all just sugar (as natural as it is).

Suggested alternative: if you’re a lover of smoothies, grab a bottle that has an addition of protein, some good fats like flax seed or chia seeds, and some greens or vegies like spinach or kale as well.

4. Granola Bars

Unfortunately, some of the binding ingredients used in these bars make them more fit for the chocolate isle. Sugar, vegetable glycerin, canola oil, fructose, are some of the basics to watch for.

Suggested alternative: load up your trolley with some seeds, activated nuts, dried berries like blueberries, goji (high in antioxidants) or craisins instead. Check out this DIY granola bar recipe by nutritionist, Sondi Bruner if you really fancy the bar snack variety.

5. Vegetable sticks and chips

Another food to watch out for is veggie snacks. Usually deep fried and full oil.

Suggested alternative: natural, opt for raw vegetable sticks instead, and you might like to dip them into freshly made avocado dip or hummus.

6. Organic Coffee

So, not really a “snack” by nature, some people will indeed skip an opportunity for a quick bite for another cup of coffee instead. By now, however, you should also be aware of the benefits of changing your coffee for tea; and in case you missed it, there’s a quick read on our blog here.

Suggested alternative: green tea is a far better option for you above coffee.

If you’re looking for some tea alternatives, check out Bondi Beach Tea Co. all-natural tea blends instead. For your mind, and for your body.