New Delhi, August 9: In today’s fast-paced world, many people resort to easily accessible snacks when hunger strikes. Common choices include samosas, kachoris, chips, namkeen, sweets, or pastries. While these options may be tasty and temporarily satisfying, making them a daily habit can lead to weight gain and other health issues. Instead, opting for fruits, roasted chickpeas, dry fruits, and salads can provide essential nutrients for the body.
The Uttar Pradesh National Health Mission (NHM) recently shared a post on the social media platform X, urging individuals to make better snack choices in their daily diets.
According to NHM, snacks like samosas, chips, and namkeen can increase oil and salt intake. Frying these items often leads to high oil absorption, resulting in excessive calorie consumption even in small portions, which can gradually lead to weight gain. Additionally, a high salt intake raises sodium levels in the body, potentially affecting blood pressure. Prolonged high blood pressure can put stress on the heart and kidneys. Therefore, it is advisable to consume chips and namkeen occasionally and in moderation.
Sweets and pastries also contain high amounts of sugar, oil, or butter. Excessive sugar intake can lead to unnecessary calorie consumption, increasing the risk of weight gain. The WHO recommends limiting high-sugar foods. However, this does not mean sweets should be completely avoided; rather, they should not be a daily breakfast staple. Fresh fruits are a much better alternative. Fruits like apples, guavas, oranges, papayas, and bananas are rich in fiber, vitamins, and essential nutrients. Fiber helps keep the stomach feeling full for longer, and regular consumption of fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Roasted chickpeas are another healthy snack option. They are high in protein and fiber, which are essential for muscle health and help keep you feeling full. This makes roasted chickpeas a great choice to curb the urge to snack frequently. Dry fruits, particularly almonds, walnuts, and cashews, are also nutrient-dense. They provide healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Walnuts and almonds are associated with heart health, but should be consumed in moderation due to their high-calorie content.
When it comes to fresh salads, ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, and other raw vegetables can be included. These are rich in water, fiber, vitamins, and many essential nutrients. Salads help fill the stomach and are generally low in calories.
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