Healthy Snacks That Fill in the Gapâ¨
I did a thing, and it was the best decision I could have made for my health. I have a trusted dietitian who holds me accountable.
Not only do I desire to lose weight, regulate glucose, and live a healthier life in general, but I wanted ongoing health sessions with a professional who could connect my eating habits to how it affects my lab work. I reached my capacity with doing it on my own and losing weight only to gain it back and some more.
Of course eating healthy sounds easy. However, the decision fatigue can get to you, especially if you have a family and share a refrigerator with others. Additionally, my needs are not the same as the needs of others in my family. 𤣠#emergingcreator
While I have a second, smaller refrigerator for which I could keep only my meal prepped foods and snacks, I didnât want to rob my kids of their refrigerator. Therefore, I created a corner in my fridge in the kitchen and in my pantry for me.
The foods pictured help fill in the gap since skipping meals is not best for regulating my blood glucose. Pictured are only three things I keep handy, but I will share more in the list below.
1. Low fat cheese such as mozzarella made with skim milk or reduced fat babybel.
2. Chomps beef sticks. No Slim Jims.
3. Avocado oil and sea salt Orville popcorn.
4. Oikos protein shakes.
5. Plain Greek Yogurt.
6. Sunflower seeds or pistachios.
These are in my rotation along with my meal prepped foods or foods I cook throughout the week.
Healthier eating doesnât mean you canât have good food. It just means you need to be more intentional.
Maintaining balanced blood glucose and managing weight can be challenging, especially when life gets busy or when sharing a kitchen with family members who have different dietary needs. From my experience working with a dietitian, Iâve learned that having a dedicated snack corner helps eliminate decision fatigue and keeps me on track. Choosing snacks like low-fat mozzarella cheese or reduced-fat babybel provides a good source of protein and calcium without excessive fat. Iâve found that opting for grass-fed, preservative-free beef sticks, such as Chomps brand, satisfies my cravings for savory snacks while avoiding additives found in products like Slim Jims. The avocado oil and sea salt Orville popcorn offers a wholesome crunch with healthy fats, which is far better than typical butter-laden popcorn. Including Oikos protein shakes and plain Greek yogurt in my snack rotation ensures I get enough protein to maintain energy levels and support muscle health. Nuts and seeds â specifically sunflower seeds and pistachios â bring in healthy fats, fiber, and micronutrients that aid in satiety and blood sugar regulation. One tip Iâd share is meal prepping these snacks and maintaining a small section in the fridge or pantry solely for them. This limits temptations to grab less healthy options from the shared family fridge and reduces daily stress about what to eat. Overall, intentional eating doesnât mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. It means understanding how the foods you chose affect your bodyâespecially important for managing glucose levels and achieving weight loss goals without feeling deprived. Developing this mindful approach gives me confidence and helps sustain long-term health improvements.
