A pumpkin may have a lot of associations for you: Halloween, Cinderella's coach, and even as a nutritious vegetable etc. However, you may not have considered that pumpkin seeds are also useful as healthy snacks. Yes, a lot of vendors are roasting, seasoning and converting pumpkin seeds into packaged healthy snack options today. Americans are fast considering pumpkin seeds as a superfood due to the nutritional value they provide and are using it in place of fried and unhealthy snacking options. Due to health problems like cholesterol, people in the U.S. are looking for healthy snacks to cut down on their calorie intake while satisfying their snacking cravings at the same time. Roasted, flavored pumpkin seeds are hence finding preference for the health-conscious.
Nutrients of the healthy snack
Healthy snacks made out of pumpkin seeds will be high in their nutrient value: pumpkin seeds have a high content of minerals like iron, zinc and magnesium. Such snacks can also become a... [more]

When we think of healthy snacks, popcorn doesn't usually make the list. We think of popcorn and we think of butter, salt and sometimes sugar. However, popcorn can be a very healthy snack by choosing healthy popcorn toppings like a salt free popcorn seasoning.
Popcorn is a whole grain snack that is naturally high in fiber, low in calories, no sodium and 1 gram of fat (from the corn). It's the popcorn toppings and how we pop the popcorn that turns this otherwise healthy snack into a high sodium, high calorie, high fat, not so healthy snack.
One serving is quite a bit, about 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels yields about 5 cups of popped popcorn at only 110 calories and 7 grams of fiber. That is a lot of munching with not a lot of calories.
Here are some tips to help make popcorn a healthy snack:
Tip #1 Choose organic popcorn which means no pesticide residues. Non-organic or regular popcorn was listed on the FDA's top ten of the most commonly contaminated foods with... [more]

Recognizing the importance of healthy snacks for kids and adults creates the groundwork upon which long-term eating habits are built. Children and their parents who consume a healthy balance of nutrients instead of an excess of junk foods have numerous advantages. Sticking to balanced meals and healthy snacks provides the desirable fuel for bodies and brains to flourish, develop, and function optimally. Those who don't get appropriate nutrition are more easily distracted, have difficulty learning, and are consumed by great health challenges later in life.
It is undeniable that choosing healthy snacks for kids can provide definite differences early on. First, there is the matter of obesity. This disease has grown to be an epidemic, with children suffering more than their parents in some cases. Just by making healthier nutritional choices, including healthy snacks for kids, adults can help guide the next generation in a better direction. Diseases such as diabetes are running rampan... [more]