- Apr
- 20
- 2017
Healthy + Snacks = Good for you!
If you’re like most people, you reach for a snack at least twice a day. In fact, Americans get one quarter of their total calories from snacks each day.* Most snacks have empty calories with few nutrients, but by shifting your snacks to things like whole grains, fruits and veggies, you can turn empty calories into nutrient dense bites.
Just recently, 200 vending machines throughout Northwell Health began labeling snacks with the Healthy Choice icon as part of the Northwell Healthy Choice nutrition criteria.
Look for the icon on these healthier snack options that have:
Real ingredients you can see
More fiber, less salt, less sugar, and less saturated fat
Gluten-free options
Since healthier choices have been available in the vending machines, sales of candy have dropped significantly. Here are some key benefits of making your snack a Northwell Healthy Choice:
Increase your nutrient intake: Healthy snacks help you improve the quality of your diet, shifting from empty calories (found in things like donuts or bagels), to nutrient-dense options (found in things like hummus and carrots).
Sustain your energy levels: Sugary snacks lead to sugar highs and subsequent energy crashes. Snacks that are healthier with high-fiber and/or high-protein, digest slower, and keep your blood sugar levels more even.
Become a better planner: If you want to make the shift from sugary or high carb, salty snacks, make healthy snack planning a priority so you can grab-and-go from home.
Use this simple guide to choose a healthy carbohydrate with a protein to make your own variety of healthy snacks. https://www.mdanderson.org/publications/focused-on-health/july-2015/your-guide-for-a-healthy-snack.html
Questions about Northwell Healthy Choice? Contact Michelle Milgrim in Employee Wellness at mcimino@northwell.edu.
*USDA Food and Nutrition Service