Smart Snacking with Kodiak Granola Bars
Afternoon snack cravings are a feeling we all know too well and don’t always know what to do with. You’ve already eaten lunch, but it seems like forever until dinner — so you know you need something to eat in-between. The only problem is, nothing sounds satisfying. You stare into your fridge, pantry, or even the vending machine but nothing catches your eye that isn’t loaded with sugar or low in nutrients. Finding smart snacks to satisfy your cravings can be difficult sometimes, but luckily you don’t have to sacrifice great taste for healthier options these days.
Here are a few tips to help you snack smarter:
Two nutritional components to look for when it comes to smart snacking are protein and whole grains. Protein helps our bodies build and repair muscle tissue and helps you feel fuller, longer. This is partly because protein reduces your body’s level of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, and boosts levels of peptide YY, a hormone that makes you feel full.
Whole grains are important because they contain all three parts of a grain: the bran, endosperm, and the germ. Among the many nutritional benefits of eating a whole grain snack is increased amounts of fiber. Fiber is not only important for keeping your digestive system clean but can also help increase that full, satisfying feeling you want from eating a snack.
With so many healthy snack options to choose from nowadays, it can feel overwhelming to sift through all of them to find smart snacks made with protein and whole grains. To make it easier, Kodiak Granola Bars are made with 100% whole grain ingredients like all of their products. They also rang from 7-10 grams of protein per serving to help satisfy your hunger and keep you full until dinnertime.
Not only do Kodiak's granola bars make a great snack on their own, but they can also be used as an important ingredient to supplement other snack recipes, too. One of my favorites is simply transforming Kodiak Chewy Bars into a delicious bowl of Granola Cereal.
There’s no doubt that afternoon cravings can be stressful and can lead to less healthy, sugary choices. However, taking a few more minutes to choose smart snacks or, better yet, planning ahead can help you find snacks that keep you fuller, longer. Quick, on-the-go snack options like Kodiak Granola Bars are just a start.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Backes is a registered dietitian and personal trainer based in Central Minnesota. Emma owns her own private practice business, Back 2 Basic Nutrition. She helps clients gain food freedom with lifestyle goal coaching. Emma also works as a clinical dietitian and inpatient dietitian. Learn more about on Instagram.