By Bob Greene from TheBestLife.com
I’m a big fan of snacks—they can help keep your hunger in check when you’re trying to cut calories. But too many people reach for the wrong types of foods, such as chips, crackers and candy. If you choose wisely, your snack can help you make it to your next meal without overdoing it.
Wondering what the best snacks are when you’re watching your weight? It probably won’t come as a surprise that I often recommend fresh fruit. I love fruit-based bites, and a new survey suggests I’m not alone. Fresh fruit is the top snack food here in the United States, beating out chocolate and potato chips, according to The NPD Group. (Way to go, Americans!)
It turns out that fresh fruit meets the many needs of snackers who worry about health and weight. They want something that is convenient and will satisfy both their hunger and cravings, the survey reports. And fruit is a versatile choice: Eat it as is or use it to create one of the following recipes.
Great Grape SmoothieYou’ll get a healthy dose of disease-fighting antioxidants—resveratrol from the grapes, citrus bioflavonoids from the orange, and anthocyanins from the strawberries and cherries—in every sip. And it’s a snap to prepare.
You can eat this as a snack, serve it as a side with pork tenderloin or baked chicken, or even enjoy it as a sweet dessert.
Not only do you get a good amount of fiber from the pear, but you’ll also score some vitamin C and cancer-fighting sulforaphanes from the cabbage.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy fresh fruit?
Also try these fruity snacks: