Satisfying, High-Fat Snacks for Better Health!

By Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T.

According to snack food industry sources, people are snacking more these days because of “frenzied” lives that lead to on-the-go-eating and a tendency to substitute meals with several smaller snacks.

Would you believe that such snacking accounts for approximately 30 percent of our daily food intake? All the more reason to make sure those snacks are actually good for us!

Unfortunately, the bulk of snack sales involves the usual not-so-healthy junk like chips, pretzels, cookies, cake, donuts, ice cream, and other food items high in sugar, salt, and the wrong kind of fat. However, according to Nielsen, a leading global marketing and consumer information company, there’s a substantial and growing interest among snackers for healthier options that are also “easy-to-eat meal alternatives.”

As a nutritionally-oriented doctor, I frequently get asked about what foods I recommend for snacks…

“Don’t” snacks:

I answer by starting with my no-no’s (click here to go straight to my snack recommendations). Avoid:

  • Processed foods loaded with sugar: candy, cookies, cakes, and many baked goods. All such carbohydrate content is quickly digested into sugar and generates an insulin reaction by the body to bring the sugar level down. Regularly snacking on this stuff contributes to weight gain, pre-diabetes, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Processed foods loaded with salt: chips, pretzels, salted nuts, dried beef, and lunch meats like salami. Too much salt promotes high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

“Do” snacks:

Believe it or not, I recommend snacks that are high in fat – they rapidly satisfy hunger and discourage overeating between meals. That’s right I said f-a-t, BUT what I mean is the right kind of fat. I don’t mean trans fats and hydrogenated oils that are processed unsaturated fat commonly found in fried and snack foods, baked goods, and frozen dinners. They have an inflammatory effect on the body and raise your risk of heart disease. I mean healthy, tasty fats, the kinds that provide the body with energy without the empty calories from the usual sugar and carbohydrate overload.

Fats 101 – Eating for Heart Disease Prevention

Here are some of my favorite high-fat snacks:

  • Avocado. At the top of my list is the awesome avocado, a royally healing fruit if there ever was one. Eat it by itself or make it the base of a delicious guacamole or in combination with a cooked egg. Avocados, loaded with healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber, essential nutrients and antioxidants like glutathione and vitamin E, add quality to the diet, improve nutrient intake, and are associated with a reduced risk of pre-diabetes. Try this guacamole with “chips” recipe!
  • Nuts. I prefer raw and unsalted. Throw organic raisins or dried organic cherries in the mix if you want added sweetness. Nuts are my go-to food when I am on the run, and have no time to sit down and eat a regular meal. My favorites are almonds, walnuts, and macadamias. Nuts have a cardioprotective benefit. Walnuts, the most studied of nuts, contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans also appear to be quite heart-healthy. Researchers have found that for persons at high cardiovascular risk, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts reduces the incidence of major cardiovascular events.
  • Olive oil and dipping spices. I’m a huge fan of olive oil and eat it whenever I can. Enhancing it with a savory dipping spices blend is like pairing peanut butter and jelly – once you try it, it’s hard to imagine going back! And while most people associate olive oil dipping with bread, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy other superfoods our bodies thrive on like fresh, steamed broccoli, spinach, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower – all sorts of veggies! Just drizzle several tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil into a bowl, add a teaspoon or so of dipping spices, and toss with the steamed veggies – healthy never tasted so good!
  • Nut butter on a celery stick, sliced apple pieces, or bell pepper. This is a snack that combines the benefit of healthy fruit and veggie nutrients with nut protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Even kids love this snack! Add raisins to sweeten it up. I prefer raw nut butters over roasted, which may have lesser nutrient content, and include undesirable hydrogenated or omega-6 fats.
  • Organic cream cheese on a celery stick, sliced apple pieces, or bell pepper. Same concept as above. Don’t get the non-fat or low-fat versions. Research has shown that whole-fat dairy is more satisfying and better for weight goals than the low-fat varieties that often have undesirable added ingredients.
  • Coconut. Crack one open, then drink the milk and eat some of the meat. That will fill you up. Coconuts are rich in healthy saturated fat that has no artery-clogging effect. The medium chain fatty acids raise HDL cholesterol, are easy to digest (even for people with gastrointestinal ailments), and are rapidly metabolized, providing quick energy. You’ll also get a wide range of minerals such as copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.
  • Canned sardines. Sardines are among the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, packing around 1.8 grams in a typical 4 ounce can. They are also high in protein, B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, vitamin D, and calcium. You can eat them right out of the can, quickly mixed with salad, on a piece of toast, or mashed with olives, mustard, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and/or onions.
  • Hard-boiled eggs. Eggs make a perfect snack, full of protein, vitamins and minerals, fat, and, yes, cholesterol. Worried about the cholesterol? Don’t be. Nutrition experts say the cholesterol in food is no concern for health. Worried about the saturated fat (1.6 grams out of a total of 5 grams of fat) in eggs? Don’t be. For decades, saturated fats were maligned as dangerous to heart health, but repeated research has found no evidence at all for that. Chop eggs and add them to a salad, or eat them alone, garnished with olives, chopped green onions, or a dash of paprika.
  • Hummus. This traditional Middle Eastern dip has become a booming success in the West. It contains superbly healthy ingredients, namely chickpeas (garbanzo beans), garlic, lemon juice, tahini (sesame paste), and olive oil. Together, the dish serves up a rich collection of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and both healthy monounsaturated (from olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats (from the tahini). Researchers have actually found that Americans who eat hummus tend to have a greater overall nutrient intake and weight status than non-consumers. Buy it ready-to-eat or make your own (there are plenty of simple hummus recipes on the Internet). Eat it with carrot “chips,” celery sticks or bell peppers instead of white flour pita. Here are my go-to hummus recipes.
  • Chocolate oatmeal cookies. If you’re in search of a nutritious and filling chocolate snack, I’ve got a recipe for you. It includes healthy coconut oil that will satisfy your sweet tooth and help prevent a sugar and insulin rush. My recipe includes flax seed (a source of fiber and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids), almond butter (with monounsaturated fat), and eggs (saturated fat). Dr. Sinatra’s Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies Recipe

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© Stephen Sinatra, MD. All rights reserved.

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