Julianna’s Favorite Fresh Finds

By Julianna Mirabile
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The most common goal that people set is to get into the routine of a healthy lifestyle, though not knowing where to start is something that scares us away. With prom and spring break approaching, getting into shape is at the top of everyone’s priority lists. 

The first step to getting into the routine of staying healthy is changing your high-calorie snacks into ones that are just as enjoyable, yet are good for you. Here are a few of my favorite snacks that don’t contain all the toxins that will keep you from achieving your goals, but are savory and appetizing:

Edamame:
This quick and simple snack is very addicting, though not very commonly known. It can be bought from any grocery store in a steamable bag containing several young soybeans. After heating up the microwavable bag for approximately four minutes, they’re ready to serve. Though the bag can feed about three people, I usually can go through a whole bag without taking a breath. This snack is gluten free, barely any calories, contains great protein and iron, and is tasty plain or with a little bit of salt. Josh Heigh, Senior and avid fan of this snack, says that, “I always order this when I go out to an Asian restaurant, but buying a bag from the grocery store is cheaper and faster.” Edamame is mostly known for being an appetizer at sushi restaurants, though fans of the food may not know that buying a bag from the grocery store is just as yummy. Instead of grabbing a handful of chips, pull a bag of edamame out of your freezer and enjoy!

Rice Cakes:
This fat free, low calorie snack has a variation of ways to serve. Besides the several flavors that the rice cakes come in(I recommend the lightly salted), there are several toppings that make it a filling snack. My personal favorite is topping the rice cake with peanut butter and a chopped up banana. Other ideas include lathering it with hummus, avocado, or almond butter with strawberries. A rice cake can go good with just about anything, so think of your favorite fruit or vegetable and this snack will keep you energized and satisfied for hours.

Hard-Boiled Eggs:
This snack is my absolute favorite at the moment. They are effortless, nutritious, and filling. Their nutrition consists of almost seven grams of protein and very low in calories. If you are not a fan of eating hard-boiled eggs plain, adding a sprinkle of salt and pepper or Old Bay can make it appease your taste buds. Senior, Garrett Mills, says that, “Every few days my mom will make a batch of about six hard-boiled eggs that I snack on around midday.” This simple snack is one that takes about twenty minutes to make, but will last you several days.

Guacamole:
Last but not least, making a facile bowl of guacamole can provide you with several vitamins, low calories, some protein, and a popular snack that people usually pay an extra $2.10 for at Chipotle. You can find millions of recipes online that require minimum ingredients and about five minutes to make. Guacamole can be eaten with about any vegetable or healthy chips (such as plantain or bean chips). Plus, avocados are a healthy fat that will fill you up before you want to munch on cookies. So go mix up a bowl of this Mexican dip and be proud of yourself for steering clear of the snack pantry.