Quick & Healthy: 5 Snacks for Busy People

Summer is over and you are back on the go, juggling your family and friends schedule with your own work load. Eating healthy tends to take a back seat when life is very busy–but healthy eats don’t always require lengthy preparation. The next time hunger strikes, before you hit up the nearest fast-food joint or grab a packaged refined snack on the run, stop! Try these quick pick-me-up snacks that will give you energy without weighing you down.

1. Banana: Replenish on the go

What could be easier than grabbing a pre-packaged banana on the run? Not only are bananas grab-and-go, but they boast many health benefits. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium, an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function. The potassium content also makes them of particular use to athletes who eat bananas to quickly replenish their electrolytes. In addition, eating bananas, along with other fruits and vegetables, has been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer and breast cancer.

2. Edamame: A low-fat simple snack

Ever since news came out about edamame’s low-fat, low-cholesterol, and high-protein characteristics, this tasty soybean snack is growing in popularity as a snack in the West. Edamame is high in essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, as well as numerous minerals and vitamins, especially folic acid, manganese and vitamin K. Buy fresh at the market and steam, or add frozen soybean pods to slightly salted water and boil for 7 to 10 minutes. Prepare ahead of time and refrigerate to save time. Of course, edamame should be avoided by anyone who is allergic to soy.

3. Hard Boiled Egg: A classic protein pick-me-up

Eggs are a good source of low-cost, high-quality protein, making them a great snack for beating the mid-afternoon slump. Eggs are also a source of all the B-vitamins, including B12, which is critical for blood production and only found in meat products. In addition, eggs contain choline, an important nutrient for brain development and cardiovascular health. Sprinkle with paprika and enjoy! Keep a supply of hard-boiled eggs on hand in your refrigerator.

4. Go nuts for a brain-boosting trailmix

For a burst of youthful energy eat a daily handful of nuts and seeds. Enticing choices include almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, peanuts and pistachios. Nuts and seeds are filled with arginine, an amino acid that helps fight heart disease, impotence, infertility, and high blood pressure. Argnine also stimulates the pituitary gland at the base of the brain to produce growth hormones, a substance that begins to decline after age 35; more growth hormones means better muscle tone, improved skin elasticity, increased cognitive function, and other anti-aging benefits.

Try this Anti-Aging Memory Mix to boost your brain! It supplies all the essential fatty acids, carotenoids, and antioxidants you need to maintain a steady supply of fuel and energy for your brain.

• 1 cup walnuts

• 1/2 cup pine nuts

• 1/4 cup sesame seeds

• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

• 1/3 cup dried goji berries

• 1/2 cup dried apricots

• 1/2 cup dried blueberries

Mix the following ingredients evenly and pack in a sealed container or ziplock bag to preserve freshness. I prefer my nuts and seeds raw because they contain more nutrients than the roasted variety.

While on the subject of sustaining energy with snacks, consider trying a supplement that provides substantial, focused and sustained energy to help you meet your full potential. High Performance is an all-natural, high-energy herb/grain combination that contains no stimulants, helping to prevent the crash that can result from overly stimulating products.

5. Apple and nut butter: A heart-happy combo

Crisp and sweet, nothing is quite as delicious as a fresh-picked autumn apple, especially when it’s spread with almond, cashew, or peanut butter. Scientists have confirmed that eating apples contributes to a healthy heart. Eating two to three apples a day results in decreased cholesterol levels, thanks to the fruit’s rich pectin content. Recent research has found that including flavonoids in the diet, such as the flavonoid quercetin found in apple peel, lowers the risk of heart disease by providing antioxidant protection and preventing unwanted inflammation. Additionally, research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. As for the nut butter, you already know that nuts are packed with healthy benefits.

I hope these tips bring you healthy snacks to get you through your busy days! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

Updating...