Things Page Eats

I am a snacker.  I eat about five or six times a day and I try to keep each snack healthy and filling.  Here is a list of things I eat at home that I don’t post about:

• Plain oatmeal.  I try to eat it every day or every other day, and somehow I don’t get sick of it.  I change it up by adding things like milk, fresh or dried fruit, or cinnamon.  It has lowered my cholesterol, it is very filling, and it’s cheap and lasts forever in the cupboard.  One last bonus tip:  I take it with me on trips and make it in hotel rooms with the hot water from the coffee maker.
• Granola bars.  I like the Kashi brand bars, particularly the Chewy Dark Chocolate and Cherry bar and the crunchy chocolate and peanut butter bar.  My runner up is the chewy Quaker Simple Harvest Cinnamon Brown Sugar with Apples and Cranberries bar.  Both brands offer bars with all natural ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup.
• Plain, non-fat yogurt.  I like to eat this with fresh fruit and a sprinkle of almonds.  For dessert I’ll add a drizzle of honey or pure maple syrup.  I also use this in smoothies with a banana, a couple heaping spoonfuls of yogurt, frozen fruit, and some milk.
• Cereal.  I’ve had a few favorites over the past couple of years including Total and Smart Start.  The cereal I eat every morning now is Kashi Go Lean.  It has a good amount of fiber and protein without too many calories.  When I can, I top my bowl with fresh blueberries or sliced strawberries.
• Sliced apples with freshly ground almond butter.  This simple snack is full of good things, and the protein in the almond butter keeps me feeling full.  I choose almond butter because almonds have the least amount of fat of all the nuts.
• Water and green tea.  I drink these both every day and they keep my energy up and my stomach feeling full.  The water is especially necessary for exercising in south Texas and the green tea gives me a boost of antioxidants.
• Frozen blueberries.  My mother-in-law told me about this one, and while they may turn your mouth purple, they are a healthy after-dinner sweet that you can’t scarf down too quickly. 
• Angel food cake with fresh fruit is a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without indulging too much.  I stay away from any whipped topping (like Cool Whip), since they contain hydrogenated oils. 
• Wasabi peas.  Like ‘em or not, they are full of fiber and are great for those cravings for crunch.  This is one of my Dad’s favorites that has rubbed off on me. 
• Pita chips.  I like Stacey’s brand, especially the Parmesan Garlic and Herb and the Cinnamon Sugar.  They have all natural ingredients, no hydrogenated oils or high fructose corn syrup, and also have that crunch factor.
• Carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, and bell pepper strips.  This is so basic, but it helps me get my veggies throughout the day and also helps when I want something crunchy. 
• Any fresh fruit including cubed melons, pineapple wedges, papaya with fresh lime juice, half of a grapefruit, whole bananas, and peaches or nectarine slices.

I’d love to hear what healthy snack ideas you all have!