Author: Maria Del Mar Mejias

via Your Gluten Free Source (http://www.yourglutenfreesource.com/)

Snacks are pretty much the first thing that come to mind whether you’re bored, watching TV or even a movie. It’s silly to admit, but it’s completely true. While trying to think of healthier ways to snack, I decided to make some modifications to some classic snacking options. So here are some Alternative snacking options!

1. Buttery Popcorn
   I remember going to the movie theater when I was younger and they would always have this “extra butter” option. Obviously, me being a kid, I would ask my parents to get it. Now older and wiser, I realize this probably wasn’t a good idea because of all the excess sodium, high calorie and saturated fat content. The option of adding the butter to my popcorn always stuck with me, so I decided to just buy fat-free low sodium popcorn and just add the butter myself. It’s as easy as popping the popcorn in the microwave, pouring it into a bowl and drizzling it with a little margarine (about a tablespoon) and a hint of salt. It tastes delicious and you’ll have more control over what you’re eating than the other way around.
2. Snack Mix
   There are thousands of snack mix options in the market yet I’ve always been a fan of making these myself; mixing and matching different natural nuts, dried fruits, yogurt bites, wheat thins, pretzels, etc. There’s no limit to all the different combinations you could make. You will also benefit from reduced calories, sugar and sodium.
3. Chips
   There’s an entire aisle in the supermarket dedicated for this item. It’s a classic snack food for any situation that transitions from watching TV at home, to party favorite. Usually when craving chips, I’ll cut up some pita bread and lay them down on a baking sheet, sprinkle some olive oil, parmesan cheese and a hint of salt on top, pop it in the oven for 5 minutes or less at 325ºF and voilà! You got yourself some delicious homemade cheese-flavored pita chips.
4.  Iced Tea
   Who doesn’t love iced tea? That being said, who knows how much sugar and caffeine goes into making commercially made iced tea? When you read the nutrition label on these products you’ll notice that the servings are almost always two to three per container with 30g of sugar per serving and more caffeine than two shots of espresso. Try making a homemade version mixing tea bags into a tall glass of water with ice and some add honey for sweetness. If you’re looking for a bit of a yummy extra, add some mint leaves. It’s easy, fast and you’ll benefit from all the nutrients that come along with tea like antioxidants.
5. Ice Cream
   Saving the best for last, here’s by far the best snack available: ice cream. Even though this might be a delicious treat, it comes with a price. Ice cream comes along with high calories, a lot of sugar and a ridiculous amount of fat. Although this wouldn’t be a problem if you served correctly, which is about ½ cup, but this almost never happens. My recommendation would be to switch to frozen yogurt, which tastes very similar. It also has got less baggage regarding excess calories, fat and sugar. Another option would be sorbet, which is made mostly with ice and it’s extremely refreshing and fruity.

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