According to Judy Nicassio, lead nutritionist at Rejuvena Health & Aesthetics, two of the biggest factors that lead to success with your diet are knowledge and preparation. The key is to plan ahead and stock your fridge with a few key staples to make sure there’s always something healthy waiting for you when you go on a hunt for a snack.
Nicassio outlines nine staples you should always have handy when you’re tummy starts rumbling:
- Turkey: It’s low in fat and sodium, and high in protein. And versatile, too: Wrap some turkey breast in a whole-wheat tortilla for a snack or take it to work for lunch.
- Salsa: Make some yourself. It’s a healthy, easy way to put some zip into egg dishes, soups and sauces.
- Hummus: Skip the pita chips. Try some with veggies like sliced cucumbers, carrots or cherry tomatoes.
- Avocado: Yes, it’s full of fat, but it’s the “good” fat–the kind that is linked to good heart health and good cholesterol levels.
- Celery: Loaded with fiber, vitamin A, potassium and calcium, it’s perfect for stocks, salads or a finger food. Spread peanut butter on it or dip it in hummus.
- Eggs: They have amino acids your body needs to make your cells work, and they’re loaded with nutrients like vitamin D, which isn’t in many foods.
- Plain Yogurt: It’s loaded with calcium, high-quality protein, and probiotics (bacteria that is good for your gut and may be linked to healthier cholesterol levels).
- Berries: They’re low in calories and high in nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber–and that makes them good for heart and brain health, and they may help protect against certain cancers as well.
- Fresh Pasta: It also has a low glycemic index, which means that it lets sugar into your bloodstream more slowly than other foods, curbing your hunger as well as the blood sugar spikes that can be bad for your health.
