India is a home to varieties of food and is a medium for us to express love. In most of the families evening snacks with a cup of tea is a tradition. Especially when all the members are at home. The tradition is now a new life style amongst people who are health conscious and trying to balance the calories in and calories out.

If you are fond of having snacks then better be careful of what you choose to eat. Too much snacking on junk foods will put on lot of calories and over a time cause various health problems. But a little cautiousness on portion size and opting the right food can turn into a blessing.

Importance of snacks

• A healthy snack can benefit by increasing the nutrient intake, providing energy, gives a fully effect which prevent you from eating unnecessarily.
• It improves the quality of your diet.
• Healthy snacks can help people manage blood sugar level.
• A healthy snack can help replenish energy in people who work out.
• Snacks can do a great favor by killing the hunger pangs and manage weight.

Indian kitchen has a lot of options for health snacks. Let us learn some of the common healthy Indian snacks that are easy to prepare and also satisfying to the taste buds.

Sprouts

Sprouting moon dal or black chana increases the nutrient content, is high in fiber and is good for digestion. It can be eaten by garnishing it with onion, tomatoes, coriander, lemon.

Corn

It is rich in mineral and vitamins. It can be consumed in a form of soup, chat or corn salad.

Sesame seeds ladoos

Roasted sesame seeds with jaggery is age old recipe that makes it a perfect snack in winters. It is a healthy sweet that is good for preventing certain diseases.

Fruits

The best snack that comes with no preparation. Get it, wash it and eat is, as simple as that. It provides your body with all the essential nutrients.

Puffed rice

Puffed rice with roasted groundnut makes a healthy evening snack.

Poha

Unlike puffed rice, poha are flattened rice. Being rich in iron, carbohydrate and essential vitamins, it is a common snack in most of the Indian homes.

Makhana

It is a great healthy alternative to chips and puffs. Makhana is low in calories and packed with potassium, protein, carbohydrate, minerals, iron, magnesium, zinc and fiber.

Dry fruits

Dry fruits have abundance health benefits. There are varieties of dry fruits easily available.

Idlis

Idlis not only makes a good main course but can be eaten as snacks as well. Apart from using rice, dal you can also use oatmeal, ragi, etc. Idli as a snack keeps you full and maintain the blood sugar level.

Vegetable salad

Pick up fresh organic vegetables, wash it, slice it and add some chat masala. This healthy snack takes few minutes for preparation and provides the body with lot of fiber and micronutrients.

Peanut chaat

Roasted peanuts with onion, tomatoes, fresh coriander, etc can make an excellent evening snacks or mid-afternoon snacks.

Everyone knows health is wealth. Yet people fail to pay attention to their body as it requires a bit of discipline and being mindful of what you eat. The organs in your body need nutrient to run smoothly. So, choosing a right food is as important as your other work are.

Your hectic work schedule may forbid you from choosing to eat what you should. The easy snacks mentioned above can surely be of great help. As it requires no time to prepare and fulfills the requirement of essential nutrients.