You may already know that I'm a huge snack fiend. I love my munchies while at work, on the go or just lazing about at home. And speaking of lazing about, you may already know that when it comes to food and cooking, I can be a bit (ok, a lot) lazy when I'm making a meal for one. It's so easy for me to just go to the coffee shop, eat a processed snack or if I'm feeling especially naughty, head to the nearest fast food joint and pick something up in a hurry. However, constantly eating out or eating pre made foods is not only costly, but because you're not preparing your own foods from scratch it is also unhealthy. This got me thinking of all the snacks that I could be easily switching up for something more filling and healthy. 

I came up with 5 snacking alternatives to many of the items that I eat every week that are actually not the best option. Some of these 'bad' snacks may even surprise you! 
 
Snack #1: Breakfast Sandwich 


It's so easy when you're in a rush in the morning to stop by McDonald's and pick up a breakfast sandwich. I love me a breakfast sandwich but they're mostly filled with fats and carbs and not enough protein for long term energy. Keeping up the habit of buying processed foods instead of making your own is not just unhealthy but also costly. Instead of a breakfast sandwich, pack some instant oatmeal and orange juice. You can boil water at work and topped with a few nuts and some fruit, you have a protein filled, nutritious breakfast to give you energy. 

Snack #2: Flavoured Latte and Muffin 


We all need an afternoon pick me up but going for your latte fix and a dense muffin means a lot of carbs (a brulee latte may be delicious but has a ton of sugar) that give you immediate energy but not long term. Instead, go for green tea which contains anti-oxidants. If you need a bit of sweetness, have a small piece of dark chocolate, also rich in anti-oxidants. If you're especially attached to your muffins, try this recipe for homemade, lemon poppy seed muffins that are also gluten free! 
 
Snack #3: Dried Fruit 
 

You'd think that dried fruit would be similar to fresh fruit, but most dried fruits that you'll find in stores have added sugars and sulfates that take away a lot of the nutritional value. When it's so easy, why not just have some fresh fruit instead? If you're craving something a bit sweeter, try adding a bit of natural peanut butter to a banana or apple. Or, freeze an over ripe banana, then mash or slice.
 
Snack #4 Fat-Free Flavoured Yogurt 
 

While fat free yogurts may seem like a good idea, they're usually loaded with sugar or sugar substitute and don't really offer anything to your body except being a convenient, low cal snack. Low cal doesn't always mean healthy though. It's a better idea to try a plain, non fat greek yogurt which contains a lot of protein. If you need to sweeten it, use a bit of honey or agave and top with fruit or a bit of granola and even some cinnamon. 
 
Snack #5: Veggie Chips
 

Imagine my surprise when I found out that veggie chips didn't actually count as part of your 5-10 a day! Who knew?! While a veggie chip is better for you than a regular chip, they don't actually offer any nutritional value. 

If you still crave the saltiness of a chip, try some kale chips or edamame with sea salt sprinkled on top. Edamame is available frozen so it's an easy snack to pack for lunch but more importantly, it's high in protein and quite tasty! Kale chips are delicious and loaded with iron, calcium and essential vitamins. 
 
What are your go-to snacks during the day?

(images via foodbeam.com, flickr.com, trinketsandbeads.files.wordpress.com, smittenkitchen.com)