Is finding a cheap, healthy snack taking up more time than it should? In this episode of Savvy Spender, we take a look at smart snacks for under $2 per serving with the help of nutritionist and creator of the Truce with Food program, Ali Shapiro.
Kind Bars
The health bar aisle at your local grocery store can be deceiving. Not everything is actually good for you here, says Shapiro. For example, many protein bars are made with isolated soy protein, which is basically a form of estrogen that can accelerate weight gain, says Shapiro. Instead, she suggests
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KIND bars ($1.99). “Their protein is whole nuts, whole foods,” she says. “They’re also low in sugar, just 5 grams which is unheard of.”
Nut Butter
Nut butter is only 55 cents per serving versus up to $3 per bag of nuts. “And usually those nuts are made with cotton seed oil or soy bean oil, which are really bad oils for us,” says Shapiro. When shopping, best to buy nut butter labeled “raw” and for peanut butter, opt for organic. “Peanuts and cotton tend to be grown together and cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops so to avoid all those pesticides you want to stick with organic,” she says.
Greek Yogurt
“In the dairy aisle I love Fage Full Fat Greek Yogurt,” says Shapiro. “At $1.99 it really packs a nutritional punch.” What people don’t often realize, she says, is that when you go for zero percent fat dairy products, you’re really not absorbing as much of the calcium as you need.
Avocados
When it comes to fruit, not all types will keep you full for a long time. “When you eat fruit by itself, because it’s just strictly sugar, you’re going to be hungry [soon after],” says Shapiro. One exception: Avocados (99 cents each). “They’re technically a fruit and contain protein and fat so you’ll remain satisfied for a couple of hours afterwards.”
Decaf Iced Coffee
Kind Bars
The health bar aisle at your local grocery store can be deceiving. Not everything is actually good for you here, says Shapiro. For example, many protein bars are made with isolated soy protein, which is basically a form of estrogen that can accelerate weight gain, says Shapiro. Instead, she suggests
.
KIND bars ($1.99). “Their protein is whole nuts, whole foods,” she says. “They’re also low in sugar, just 5 grams which is unheard of.”
Nut Butter
Nut butter is only 55 cents per serving versus up to $3 per bag of nuts. “And usually those nuts are made with cotton seed oil or soy bean oil, which are really bad oils for us,” says Shapiro. When shopping, best to buy nut butter labeled “raw” and for peanut butter, opt for organic. “Peanuts and cotton tend to be grown together and cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops so to avoid all those pesticides you want to stick with organic,” she says.
Greek Yogurt
“In the dairy aisle I love Fage Full Fat Greek Yogurt,” says Shapiro. “At $1.99 it really packs a nutritional punch.” What people don’t often realize, she says, is that when you go for zero percent fat dairy products, you’re really not absorbing as much of the calcium as you need.
Avocados
When it comes to fruit, not all types will keep you full for a long time. “When you eat fruit by itself, because it’s just strictly sugar, you’re going to be hungry [soon after],” says Shapiro. One exception: Avocados (99 cents each). “They’re technically a fruit and contain protein and fat so you’ll remain satisfied for a couple of hours afterwards.”
Decaf Iced Coffee
Instead of frozen yogurt, Shapiro suggests a healthier creamy snack for the summer months when our cravings get going: a decaf iced coffee with a dollop of heavy whipping cream. Cost: $1.50 at Starbucks.