Quick, what should I eat?

Adapted from a post by Lisa Stollmanm, MA, RDN, CDE, CDN

"You want to eat healthy but–let’s face it—you might not know how to get started. Quite often when you have a busy schedule, healthy meals and snacks fall to the wayside and you grab and go from the deli and the vending machine throughout the day. But with a little planning, you can not only eat healthier but also put some money in the bank! Here are some of my suggestions for nutritious and easy-to-prepare snacks."

Sometimes we just need a little bit of articulating.  That's why we've allowed Lisa to spell out some snacks here.  But don't be afraid to make changes according to what you like or what you have on hand.  Example: Swap blueberries for strawberries or mango.

Snacks:

• 1 granola bar (such as KIND or Kashi) + 1 fresh fruit
• 1/2 cup cottage cheese + 1 cup blueberries
• Smoothie: 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt or skim or soy milk + 1 fruit. Fill blender with ice to.  Blend and enjoy!
• 1 cup whole grain cereal (such as Multigrain Cheerios, Kashi Heart to Heart or Barbaraʼs Cinnamon Puffins + 1 cup skim, soy or almond milk
• 1 can Amyʼs soup, such as Minestrone or Vegetable Barley (look for soups that have 100 calories or less and at least 4 grams of fiber per serving
• 100 calorie bag of popcorn and 1 fruit
• 4 tbsp. hummus with cucumber slices + carrot + celery sticks

Tell us what your favorite snacks or "second meals" are.  What snacks did you grow up having in your house?

Related: "Afternoon Snack Ideas" 

Read the full post, "Quick and Easy Meal and Snacks" by Lisa Stollman

Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for teens. For more information visit www.bestteendiets.org