Most Americans are getting too much sugar, and that’s partly because sugar finds its way into even the healthiest-sounding foods. Many packaged snacks contain surprising amounts of added sugar, usually listed on nutrition labels as maltose, dextrose, fructose, and other less obvious terms. That granola bar over there? Over 7 grams of sugar. That low-fat yogurt? Over 26 grams of sugar.
Today, the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar a day — that’s more than double what the American Heart Association recommends for optimal health.
You might recognize celebrity nutritionist and registered dietitian Keri Glassman of Nutritious Life from her appearances on shows like “The View,” “The Talk,” and “The Today Show.” Keri takes a “whole person” approach to wellness, and a big part of that comes down to what you put in your body.
She’s come up with some sugar-free snack ideas that are more satisfying and nutritious than whatever’s in your snack drawer. Try them!
1. Ricotta with berries
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup frozen berries
- 1 tbsp. ground flaxseed
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!
2. Apple with cinnamon almond butter
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. almond butter
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 apple, sliced
Directions:
- Combine almond butter and cinnamon.
- Dip apple in nut butter.
3. Turkey lettuce rollup
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. fresh turkey
- 1 tbsp. hummus
- 1 tbsp. olives, chopped
- 1 large leaf of romaine lettuce
Directions:
- Layer turkey, hummus, and olives onto lettuce.
- Roll up to secure, and enjoy!
4. Peach avocado toast
Ingredients:
- 1/3 avocado, mashed
- 1 slice sprouted grain bread, toasted
- 3 slices peach
- 1 tsp. hemp seed
Directions:
- Top warm toast with avocado and slices of peach.
- Sprinkle with hemp seed, and enjoy!
5. Matcha yogurt
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. matcha powder
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup blueberries
- 1 tbsp. chopped pecans
Directions:
- Stir matcha powder into yogurt until well combined.
- Top with blueberries and pecans and enjoy!
6. Crudité with guacamole
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp. fresh guacamole
- 1/2 cup carrots, sliced
- 1/3 cup radishes
- 1/3 cup grape tomatoes
Directions:
- Use guacamole for dipping veggies.
