Sonnalli Seygall shares healthy snack ideas to stay fit

Functional nutritionist Mugdha Pradhan emphasised that the kind of snacks you eat is a bigger factor in determining your health than whether or not you snack

Sonnalli shares healthy snacking options (Source: Sonnalli Seygall/Instagram)

We may stick to a strict diet plan for our breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but when it comes to those announced hunger pangs, most people end up craving sweet and/or fried food items. While a well-thought-out cheat meal once in a while may not cause harm, constantly indulging in unhealthy snacking can put your health in jeopardy. As such, instead of reaching out for chips, chocolates, or other such items, opt for healthier alternatives.

And, solving your woes is Sonnalli Seygall who took to social media to share healthy snack ideas which will not just satiate your hunger pangs, but also help you stay on track with your fitness game. Take a look below:

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A post shared by Sonnalli Seygall (@sonnalliseygall)

Here are some healthy snack ideas, as suggested by the actor.

*Makhana
*Vegetable soup and gluten-free bread
*Black coffee with coconut oil
*Coconut water
*Salad
*Naturally sweetened homemade cakes
*Ginger lemon honey tea
*Nuts and seeds
*Chana and peanuts
*Fruits
*Nut milk smoothies

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Talking about the same, Dr Ridhima Khamesra, Founder, Diet Solutions said that snacking is considered an antagonist that is responsible for obesity and erratic eating. “However, if taken wisely, it can be a hero that can curb hunger, control glucose level drop, and also keep you satiated until your next meal without adding to your weights,” she said.

Adding, functional nutritionist Mugdha Pradhan, CEO and Founder, iThrive said that snacking is not a necessity for health. “Ideally, it’s recommended that you avoid snacking for optimal gut health. If you eat meals with sufficient energy value, protein, and nutrients, you don’t require any snacking in between. Snacking in between meals often disrupts the rest time of the gut and increases the risk of developing gut issues,” Pradhan added.

Fruits are a healthy alternative (Source: Pexels)

However, she emphasised that the kind of snacks you eat is a bigger factor in determining your health than whether or not you snack. “Snacks, occasionally or within limited accounts, are okay, especially if the snacks consumed are healthy,” she said.

The expert said that healthy snack options include meat jerky (from well-sourced pasture-raised animals), boiled eggs, fruits, butter cubes, dates, figs, and other dried fruits.

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Dr Khamesra suggested the following snacking options:

*Replace grains containing gluten with gluten-free options like millet, quinoa etc.
*Replace sugar with low glycemic index honey or go completely off sugar.
*Add lemon to offset Chilli and spices in roasted options.
*Choose baked snacks over fried ones.
*A smoothie with almond milk or oats milk or lactose-free yoghurt is a good option for people who crave sugar and need heavier snacks.
*No grain baked tortilla chips to replace traditional fat empty-calorie chips.
*Roasted Jowar, roasted bajra puff to replace corn.

Pradhan added that although experts don’t recommend nuts due to high amounts of plant defence chemicals and enzyme inhibitors, some nuts like walnuts and macadamia are relatively safe options, especially if soaked first. “Some dairy options like artisanal cheeses, yoghurt, etc can be consumed as long as the dairy is well-sourced and not store-bought conventional dairy. Processed and packaged items should generally be avoided. However, some good brands do produce healthy and clean products like food bars and trail mixes. It’s important to carefully review the ingredients label to verify if the item is healthy or not before consuming,” she concluded.

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