Superfoods are popular right now, and for good reason. This group of foods includes extremely wholesome, nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, just like it sounds in the name. Even while they all have special health advantages of their own, some superfoods are the ideal between-meal snacks since they may keep you feeling full and energized until it’s time to eat your next meal.
What, though, makes a snack more satiating and stimulating? To begin with, foods with more fiber and protein content will be more satiating. Because high-fiber foods don’t digest like other carbohydrates do, eating them can cause your body’s digestion to take longer, reducing your appetite. Protein-rich foods can help control your hunger hormones and lessen cravings.
Because fiber and protein help you feel fuller for longer, they can also help you feel more energised because you won’t be constantly hungry or lacking in vital nutrients. These snacks can also help you feel more energized because you won’t be consuming foods that are known to make you feel drowsy and lethargic, such as foods with a lot of added sugar, which are known to cause severe blood sugar crashes and leave people feeling tired, hungry, and sluggish.
Mixed nuts and dried fruit trail mix
Combining many superfoods into one can help you achieve a high-quality superfood snack. The best way to do this is to make a handmade trail mix using ingredients like walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips.
Almonds and walnuts supply satiating protein and good lipids, while pumpkin seeds have iron and magnesium. In addition to providing natural sweetness and antioxidants, dried cranberries and dark chocolate chips also have mood-enhancing properties.
Chia pudding
Another source of plant-based protein is chia seeds, which, despite their small size, contain an impressive amount of minerals. For your mid-afternoon snack, prepare a chia seed pudding by blending milk, vanilla, blueberries, and pecans.
These seeds are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids and expand when exposed to liquid, giving them a gel-like consistency that encourages feeling full. In addition, milk offers 13 extra necessary minerals and one gram of high-quality protein per ounce, while blueberries are naturally delicious and a potent source of antioxidants. Pecans also increase the amount of monounsaturated fat, fiber, and crunch.
Hard-boiled eggs
Making a few hard-boiled eggs and keeping them in the fridge can come in handy when you’re in a genuine crunch and don’t have much time to prepare a thoughtful snack.
As nature’s multivitamin, eggs are an excellent snack since they offer a range of vitamins, minerals, and highly-bioavailable protein to keep you full and energized.
With 6 grams of protein per egg, eggs are a high-protein food that will help you feel fuller before your next meal. However, eggs are more than simply a source of protein because they are also packed with valuable vitamins and nutrients. As a result, they can help you feel full while also providing your body with certain vital nutrients.
Roasted chickpeas
A high-fiber, high-protein food like chickpeas—which contain 8 grams of fiber and nearly 9 grams of protein in half a can—can help you control your hunger and maintain a healthy digestive system while also providing your body with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like manganese, folate, copper, zinc, and iron.
Simply open a can of chickpeas and roast them in the oven with a little salt and spice, or puree them to make hummus to serve with your favorite sliced vegetables.
Apples and nut butter
Many people associate a sliced apple with nut butter with childhood memories, but this particular snack also incorporates a number of superfoods and can help you feel more satisfied in between meals. Apples have a higher fiber content than other fruits, therefore your body will take longer to digest them. Additionally, nut butters like almond, cashew, or peanut butter can give you some protein and good fats, which will also help you feel more satisfied.