Yahoo Finance 11 Secret Snacks Dietitians Stash in Their Bags
If anyone knows how to eat healthy in any situation, it's a registered dietitian. Whether at a conference or on a plane, these professionals sneakily stash away snacks in case they get hungry. Here are 11 of their picks:
Almond Tins
Nuts are a go-to snack among dietitians. Joan Salge Blake, clinical associate professor at Boston University and author of "Nutrition & You," for instance, says she keeps a little tin of almonds "in every pocketbook, briefcase and backpack" when she travels. "They are rich in protein, fiber, vitamin E and phytochemicals, and are shelf-stable so I never leave home without them," she says. "If my travel plans are delayed, I always fall back on my yummy almonds to get me to my destination without a hungry horror show."
[See: Healthy Snacks for When You Feel Hangry.]
Homemade Muffin and Nut Butter
Some dietitians like to have a more substantial snack with them. Sarah Thornton, a digestive health blogger at TheTolerantTummy.com, likes to tote along a homemade high-fiber carrot apple muffin paired with a single serving packet of almond butter. "This is my go-to snack because the combination of protein, healthy fats and fiber keeps me full for hours," she says. "Plus, it's easy to eat in the hustle and bustle of airports, doesn't require refrigeration and survives intact despite my packed-to-the-brim bag."
An Oatmeal Packet
Mandy Enright, creator of the couples nutrition blog and podcast "Nutrition Nuptials," carries an instant oatmeal packet, nut butter packet and trail mix containing dried fruit and nuts. "As long as hot water is around, I've got a fiber and protein-loaded snack to keep me feeling full and satisfied for hours," says Enright, who sometimes eats all the ingredients together and sometimes eats them incrementally. "Since this snack doesn't require any refrigeration," she adds, "it can live in my purse until a hunger emergency comes up."
Homemade Trail Mix
Many dietitians, including Elizabeth Ward, author at BetterIsTheNewPerfect.com, tuck away homemade trail mix in their bags. Ward prefers to make hers from whole-grain cereal, peanuts and raisins or dried cranberries. "I always have these ingredients in my house and I just throw them all in a sandwich bag before I leave on a trip," she says. "If I'm in a pinch and can't have a proper meal, my trail mix covers three food groups and I feel satisfied."
Whole Fruits
Whole fruits are one of the easiest snacks to tuck away in your bag. Just take it from Malina Malkani, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: "At any given time, you can usually find a clementine or banana in my purse when I'm dashing out the door," she says. "Whole fruits are convenient traveling companions because they pack a ton of vitamins and minerals into a portable package and they provide fiber to help keep me satisfied."
Peanut Butter and Strawberry Sandwich
One of the most intriguing sandwich options comes from Jenna Gorham of Jenna Gorham Nutrition Consulting, LLC, who makes a peanut butter and strawberry sandwich on whole-grain bread for when she's traveling by plane. "It's filling, satisfying and a healthier choice that most options you'll find at the airport," she explains.
Grapes
Sarah Pflugradt of Salubrious RD carries grapes for her plane rides. "For approximately 100 calories per cup, they fill me up and double as a hydration source," she says. Plus, she adds, "you can't get through security with water, but you can take grapes!"
Roasted Chickpeas
Danielle Stadelman, a corporate wellness dietitian in the greater Los Angeles area, satisfies her inner chip craving by noshing on a handful of crunchy and portable roasted chickpeas. "Only half a cup provides 7.5 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, in addition to providing a little bit of every vitamin and mineral," Stadelman says. She prefers to make her own roasted chickpeas with some basic seasoning and olive oil (roast for 40 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit). You can dress your roasted chickpeas spicy or sweet -- the combinations are endless.
[See: These Healthy Seasonings Are Tasty Substitutes for Sugar and Salt.]
Dried Mangos
Samara Abbott loves keeping a bag of dried mango with no added sugar on hand. "Dried mango is perfect for an afternoon carb craving and it's also high in fiber," she says. "Sometimes I will pair that with some almonds if I need a heavier snack."
Dates Stuffed With Almonds
Rahaf Al Bochi, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of Olive Tree Nutrition, totes along one of my son's favorite snacks, which I used to bring on long plane rides. "I open up each medjool date, take out the pit and place a couple of almonds inside," she says. "It's the perfect snack because it gives me a surge of energy from the date's natural sugars and keeps me full from the protein and healthy fats in the almonds."
[See: Frequent Travelers Share 11 Tips for Staying Regular on Vacation.]
Pretzels and Almond Butter
Bonnie Taub-Dix, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of "Read It Before You Eat It: Taking You from Label to Table," always travels with a 1-ounce packet of almond butter. That way, she can use it to top pretzels on a plane or baked chips at a conference. "Almond butter is a food I pretty much eat daily at home as well," she says. "Whether swirled in my oatmeal or topped on my whole-grain toast, it provides healthy fats along with protein to help me feel full and satisfied."
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