Eating healthy snacks has become a conscious practice for many. Everyone loves to snack and eliminating it completely from your life is like giving up on one of life’s small pleasures. So, instead of giving up on snacking, in an attempt to follow a healthy lifestyle, people are switching to healthy snacks or low calorie snacks. India has a rich history of food and in every part of India you will find different nutritional dishes and snacks like dry fruit ladoos, til chikkis, methi khakra, murukku, etc. Today, let’s find out how people around the world are snacking!
Check out these healthy snacks from around the globe:
- Edamame: Edamame is a traditional Japanese snack made from young soybeans. They generally come 3 in a pod and are a part of the Japanese cuisine. They are a popular accompaniment with sake or alcohol and are generally served boiled with some salt sprinkled over. It's a great source of protein, fibre, and vitamins, and is low in calories.
- Kalamata Olives: Kalamata Olives are a tasty and healthy snack option from Greece. They’re named after the city of Kalamata where they were originally grown. Purple in colour, these shiny olives are often cured in brine or saltwater to decrease their bitterness. They are often eaten as table olives as snacks or can be included in your diet in a variety of ways. You can make an olive spread, a salad, use them as toppings on pizza or pasta, etc. They're high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and contain antioxidants that help protect against heart disease.
- Pepitas: Pepitas or roasted pumpkin seeds are a popular snack in Mexico. Although pepitas are not just any pumpkin seeds, they’re hulled pumpkin seeds and are full of nutrients. They can be enjoyed as crunchy snacks after roasting them in a pan until they turn golden brown. However, apart from being a healthy Mexican snack, pepitas aso used to make mole (moh-lay) sauces which taste heavenly with grilled meat. Easy to eat, pepitas can easily become a part of your healthy lifestyle. They're rich in magnesium, zinc, and protein, and make a great low-carb snack option.
- Leblebi: Roasted chickpeas, or Leblebi, are a popular snack fromTurkey. It is equally popular in other middle eastern countries like Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Greece, etc. Chickpeas are selected based on their size, shape, colour, harvesting time, to make proper leblebi. These chickpeas are then cleaned, sorted, roasted, rested, roasted again, remoistened, and roasted for a third time before they can be served. The process is long but the resulting chickpeas are full of nutrition and flavour. They are usually garnished with pepper, salt, garlic powder, turmeric, olive oil, or coriander. They're a great source of plant-based protein, fibre, and essential nutrients like iron and folate.
- Dried Mango: Dried Mango is a sweet and healthy snack option from Thailand. These mango slices are chewy and sweet and are perfect for on-the-go snacks. With dried mangoes, you need not wait for summer to enjoy this delicious tropical fruit! Dried mangoes are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and fibre, and contain natural sugars that provide a quick burst of energy.
- Harissa-Spiced Almonds: Harissa-spiced almonds are a healthy snack option from Morocco. They are roasted with harissa, sea salt, and other spices and give them a flavourful taste. These crunchy almonds are quite addictive and are perfect to serve as healthy snacks. They’re rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and protein, and the harissa adds a spicy kick and anti-inflammatory properties.
These are some of the healthy snack options from different countries. If you’re looking for something desi to add to your snack routine, you can go for salted makhanas or roasted moong jor. No Bullshit snacks is your partner in healthy snacking which offers 4 different types of healthy snacks. Check them out here!