Switching It Up: Tips for Healthier Snacking

Date: 09/04/23

Here in Louisiana, we love our food! That means we are no strangers to craving a certain food or snack. Unfortunately, the food we crave can sometimes be unhealthy. And if we eat unhealthy foods too often or too much, it can lead to bad health outcomes for our bodies.

But if certain snacks and meals are so unhealthy, why does our body crave those foods?

Our food cravings are caused by many factors, but mainly we crave food because our body is looking for serotonin. Serotonin is the hormone most known for making people feel happy.

When we experience things like stress and anxiety, our brain chemistry gets messed up. Ingredients in unhealthy snacks, such as refined sugars and carbohydrates, give us a short-term surge in serotonin. This can lead to bursts of energy or happy feelings, but those things don’t help our bodies in the long run.

It may not be easy, but there are ways to replace junk food with delicious and healthier alternatives.

Here are some good snacks you can try the next time you’re feeling a craving.

• Fresh Fruit
• Greek Yogurt
• Dark Chocolate
• Plantain Chips
• Trail Mix
• Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
• Hummus With Vegetables
• Sweet Potato Fries
• Baked Tortilla Chips
• Cottage Cheese

Talk with your doctor about your current diet and how you can make healthy swaps to improve your health.