When it comes to weight loss, I know that my downfall is snacking. When I get bored, my brain automatically thinks, “Well snacking will keep you occupied so you’ll stop bugging me about being bored.”

Because of that, I’ll find bags of chips and cookies shoved in my pantry. Usually they’re in the back, behind boxes of cereal (out of guilt). So I’ve been looking at different types of snacks that are a little healthier but just as tasty and easy to prep – as in no preparation required.

Nuts.

Yep, we’ve all heard that nuts are a healthier snack than other options. That doesn’t just limit your snacking options to peanuts though. In fact, I suggest that you stay away from peanuts and snack on others.

Pistachios are great. Get the shelled option. It will make you work for your snack, which will slow down your eating (you won’t be able to shove handfuls of it into your mouth). Then when your stomach says that you’re full, it will have enough time to relay that message to your brain – before you overstuff yourself.

According to WebMD, a recent study was published in Diabetes Care which stated that pistachios can help people (who are at risk of getting diabetes) control their blood sugar. WebMD also stated that there are other studies that found that tree nuts also do the same thing. What are tree nuts? Cashews, pecans, almonds, and Brazil nuts.

Yes, these nuts are more expensive than regular peanuts but you can cut down on costs by buying them in bulk. Then when you get home, you can separate them out into serving sized portions (in those single serving baggies). Place those baggies in your nut bags so that you can just grab a single serving before you go sit in front of the TV, or if you need to bring some snacks with you to work.

Most studies find that about 1 to 2 ounces of nuts are about a regular serving size. I would stick with 1 ounce if you’re not super active and 2 ounces if you’re constantly on the go and getting active. Why? Because even though they are healthy, they are also high in calories.

Which nuts are the healthiest?

They’re all pretty healthy because they are all rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. However, depending on what vitamins you want to focus on, you may want to opt for certain nuts. Cashews are magnesium heavy. Pistachios are good for your eyes and blood sugar. Almonds have a lot of vitamin E in them.

I suggest getting a mix of them though. A varied diet is a healthy diet.

Sources:

Image by Weignstock (http://pixabay.com/en/nuts-eat-kitchen-cook-food-96232/)

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20140910/nuts-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC