5 Heart Healthy Snacks

Today I shared my favorite heart healthy snacks, 5 to be exact, on Fox 59 Morning News. 5 heart healthy snacks to keep you satisfied and maybe improving your overall heart health at the same time! Now, the old standby’s of fresh fruit, bright and colorful veggies, healthy oils and fish or seafood are your best bets for increasing your overall Omega-3 intake. Here are a few of my tasty heart healthy snacks!

5 Heart Healthy Snacks 

When it comes to snacking, a little can go a long way. Just because you eat a small amount of something doesn’t mean it is the best choice for you. If you are like me you look for a balance between salty, sweet, crunchy and healthy. Today I am sharing my top 5 heart healthy snacks to make your afternoon munchies so much healthier!

First up is a favorite of many: Berry Smoothie. You can pack quite a bit in an 8-10 oz smoothie. In mine I combine a banana, a handful of bright fresh or frozen berries, a 4-6 oz cup of vanilla or plain yogurt, a bit of milk and sometimes a drop or 2 of honey. Combine all of this in a blender or a Magic Bullet Magic Bullet like me and you have a great meal or snack on the go.

Next up is a classic snack that is so versatile- hummus. Now, hummus is very good for you in a lot of ways but what you use to dip the hummus can sometimes detract from the goodness it bring sot the table. Try using raw zucchini slices, carrot or celery sticks or even wedges of red pepper to deliver the yum. My go to hummus? Sabra classic or lemon twist. So.Good.

Trail Mix- this isn’t what the Boy Scouts taught you to make this is a power packed version that brings the good stuff in just a handful (which is a portion). Roasted almonds, sunflower seeds (unsalted if possible), dried cherries and dark chocolate chips are all you need. Oh, and a large zip-lock bag to dump it all in. Use equal parts of each ingredient, seal the bag and shake shake. Real technical ????

Add ingredients to a large zip-lock bag or airtight container.

Tuna and White Bean Salad is not only a meal in itself- it’s also a great afternoon pick me up. I buy small, reusable containers to bring along in my lunch bag and it’s just enough to tie me over in the late afternoon until dinner. You can even pair it with a few whole grain crackers for more crunch.

The lineup of simple, easy to find ingredients!

Look for the healthy heart labels

#SEAFOOD2xWKIND

Did you know?

• The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend at least two servings of seafood per week to take in adequate amounts of lean protein, omega-3’s, vitamins and minerals.
• ·         Unfortunately, 80-90% of Americans are missing these critical nutrients.
• ·         Eating seafood 2X week reduces the risk of dying from heart disease by 36%.
• ·         Eating seafood for essential Omega-3 fatty acids can prevent 84,000 deaths each year.
• ·         Older adults who had the highest blood levels of the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish lived, on average, 2.2 years longer than those with lower levels.