Healthy Snacking: Best and worst snacks of 2021

Snack time is the best time! But it can also get you into trouble if you're trying to maintain a healthy eating plan. Though a well-balanced diet of indulgences mixed with healthy choices is the best way to live, it's easy to fall into a trap of snacking on too much salt or sugar if you're not being careful.

Snack foods are made easy to grab and go, and that's where they can get you into trouble. It's important to consider the nutrition information in a serving of your snack of choice and stick to it, especially if you don't want to consume too much sodium and carbs. Fortunately, for every oily cheesy snack, you can find a whole-grain protein-rich snack.

Ahead, we're breaking down some of the best and worst snacks of India in 2021 based on the nutrition quotient-

Best Snack of India in 2021-

Idlis

A steamed delight from South India, idlis can be consumed as a breakfast or lunch item and even as a snack. Usually made from fermented rice and urad dal batter, you can also make them from many other ingredients like semolina, oatmeal, ragi, etc. Single, medium-sized idli contains just 36 calories, 2grams of protein and 8 grams of carbohydrates. Idlis also contain iron and calcium. This is a perfect combination to keep you full and your blood sugar levels maintained.

Also read | 5 Food items that were invented by mistake

Yoghurt/Curd Sandwich

Everyone loves sandwiches, and luckily they make the perfect snack. You can try making yoghurt sandwiches at home. Yoghurt sandwiches are made from thick curds, whole wheat bread slices, fresh vegetables like grated carrots, cabbage, onions, bell peppers, fresh coriander, black pepper, and salt. One yoghurt sandwich contains 200 calories. This delicious snack is low in fat but high in fibre and good amounts of protein. It also contains calcium, Vitamin A and C, and iron

Dhokla

One of Gujarat’s most popular Indian snacks, it is made from fermented chickpea and rice batter. Dhokla can be eaten as a snack or for a light breakfast. What makes dhokla healthy is that a single serving contains 283 calories, 11 grams of protein, and zero cholesterol. This snack is also a good source of iron, magnesium, and calcium.

Bhel Puri without chutney
A savoury snack from Central parts of India, it is made from puffed rice, mixed spices, peanuts, vegetables and a drizzle of tamarind chutney. To snack this delicacy, guilt-free, you can avoid chutneys and load it with fresh vegetables, nuts and herbs. A single serving of bhel puri has only 60 calories accompanied by an ideal combination of good protein and complex carbs. Similarly, you can try different chaats made from boiled chickpeas or whole moong.

Worst Snack of Indian in 2021

Potato chips

A bowl full of potato chips is everyone's favourite. They are truly addictive and thus it's nearly impossible to just eat one. Moreover, potato chips are loaded with salt, which makes our bodies retain water. So, if you are snacking on potato chips often, they might be the reason you are piling on those extra kilos and especially that belly fat.

Sugary cereals

The cereal box might seem like an easy go-to breakfast option, but it's not the most healthy choice. Most cereals are loaded with sugar and are no better than a candy bar. According to a study published in the annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, people who had oatmeal for breakfast were fuller for longer and felt less hungry than people who had cornflakes for breakfast.

Packaged noodles

Not only are noodles low on nutrition, but they also come with a lot of sodium. Children between the ages of two and three should have no more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium per day, while kids up to age eight shouldn’t exceed 1,200 mg per day. However, one serving of most packed noodles or pasta has more than half of a child’s recommended limit.

Granola bars

They have been hailed as the ultimate healthy snack, but many varieties of granola bars have ingredients that make them more of a dessert than a nutritional delight. The catch is again on the cover. Hunt for bars that contain at least two grams of fibre and less than 10 grams of sugar, and also for those that have little or no saturated fat, and no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.

When it comes to healthy munching, there are plenty of options available among Indian snacks. These will help you feel full and energetic while helping you maintain/lose weight. The old adage "You are what you eat" can be applied here because when you make healthy choices you are taking a step towards a fresh and fit life.