Health foods have a bad reputation for being bland and sometimes downright inedible, but there are so many nutritious options that can satisfy your sweet, spicy, and salty cravings. We’re serious––you don’t have to shove a caustic turmeric shot down your throat or choke down bland boiled chicken breast to give your body the fuel it needs.
Here are a handful of healthy but delicious foods to add to your grocery shopping list that actually taste good!
1. Pistachios
Pistachios have a delicious buttery flavor and an endless list of health benefits. In addition to an excellent source of protein, pistachios provide fiber, antioxidants, and potassium! Plus, their healthy monounsaturated fats can help lower bad cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease.
Next time you’re looking for a salty, afternoon pick-me-up, consider reaching for a bag of pistachios instead of chips. If you want to avoid excess sodium, opt for unsalted nuts.
2. Pineapple
If you don’t want to give up sugar in your diet, nothing beats fresh juicy, fruit––especially tangy fruit like pineapple. Like all fruit, pineapple naturally contains sugar, so eating in moderation is important! As far as digestive benefits go, pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain that boosts digestion and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Keep a container of chopped pineapple in the fridge for a quick snack, or keep a container in the freezer for a quick smoothie hack!
3. Sweet Potato
Like their nutritious counterpart, the potato, sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients that can help aid in vitamins and weight loss. When sweet potatoes are fully cooked, an enzyme within the potato breaks down the starch and turns it into maltose––the sugar responsible for the potato’s sweet taste. Like carrots, sweet potatoes are full of the antioxidant beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A.
A baked sweet potato is an easy snack or addition to any meal! Bake your sweet potato at 425 for 55 minutes! You can choose to cover it with butter or add spices like cinnamon to make it a sweet snack.
4. Dark Chocolate
Any health-food fanatic knows that if you’re looking for a sweet, low-calorie treat, dark chocolate is the way to go. The secret to its sweetness? Cacao beans. Surprisingly, cacao beans contain the highest concentration of antioxidants of any known food. For the most benefits, try to pick a bar that’s at least 70% dark.
5. Greek Yogurt
Likely, this creamy, probiotic-filled snack is already a morning or nightly staple in your diet, but we couldn’t leave it off of this list. On average, one 8-oz serving of yogurt offers up about 20g of protein. Adding toppings like nuts, seeds, honey, fruit, or granola can make for a hearty breakfast!
We love yogurt for its versatility, and there are many toppings you can add to give your snack more nutrients, flavor, and sweetness. In addition, yogurt contains millions of probiotics––good gut bacteria––to help improve digestion.
For more information and healthy tips, explore our Health & Human Services Archives!
