15 Ways to Create Wholesome Snacks Swaps for These Everyday Treats
What you’ll find inside this bag: 15 ways you can take conventional snacks and create wholesome snack swaps with Skuta Seeds.
This post was written by Karen Gilman, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and founder of Nutrilicious.
Snacking ‘aint easy!
Well, not in the 21st century anyway. In case you haven’t noticed, we are constantly bombarded with less-than-healthy snack choices.
From highly processed convenience food to sugar-packed kid snacks, and even heading down the health food section you’ll find snacks with ingredients that don’t do the pretty labels and bold claims any justice.
Isn’t it time for a truly wholesome snack that can replace almost any other snack out there?
A wholesome snack that is loaded with flavour, texture, nutrition, and is easy to take with you anywhere?
Welcome, Skuta pumpkin seeds! Your new healthy snack option that can easily swap out some of the biggest lesser-than-healthy snacks out there.
15 AMAZING WHOLESOME SNACK SWAPS THAT USE SKUTA SEEDS
1. CONVENIENCE CHOCOLATE BARS
Most store-bought chocolate bars will fill you up and give you a burst of energy, but they are loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and highly processed ingredients. You can easily replace this by making your own chocolate bark using sea salt pumpkin seeds and melting organic, fair-trade dark chocolate.
Or, if you are looking to cut back on the sugar in your life, easily replace your chocolate habit with a handful of Chili Maple Jango flavoured pumpkin seeds and let that sweet, subtle heat take over your taste buds.
2. CHIPS COOKED IN PROCESSED OILS
Potato chips are cooked in oil at high temperatures, which can produce carcinogenic compounds like acrylamide. In addition, chips are loaded with salt, and they don’t fill you up near as much as a snack that contains protein and healthy fats will. A high protein, wholesome snack option will leave you feeling much more satisfied.
3. STORE BOUGHT GRANOLA BARS
As consumers, we are led to believe that store bought granola bars are a healthier alternative that can even leave us feeling full and satisfied and make for a wholesome snack post-workout.
However, most store-bought granola bars are loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats, and sometimes contain candy. Not to mention how overwhelming it can be picking out a healthy granola bar with the abundance of choices out there.
Want a wholesome snack option to replace your granola bar? Eat ¼ cup Chili Maple Jango Pumpkin Seeds for a boost of energy, or you can even use them to make your own granola bars.
4. BAGGED PRETZELS
Pretzels have gained a reputation as being a good alternative to chips as they are not fried and thus lower in fat, but truth be told, they may not be much healthier.
Pretzels are still highly processed, are usually high in salt, refined oils, and are most likely made from white flour as opposed to healthier whole grain options. This white flour means the pretzels will be digested fast and you’ll end up hungry soon after you eat them.
Grabbing a handful of Skuta seeds is a much more satisfying way to provide you with protein and healthy fat so you’ll stay fuller longer. Plus, pumpkin seeds taste just as delicious!
5. SIMPLE RICE CAKES
Rice cakes are another snack option that the health industry has touted as a great alternative because they are low-calorie and gluten-free. While they’re most definitely low in calories, they are also lacking in nutritional density and the ‘white rice’ versions contain simple carbs that get digested easily.
If you do love a good rice cake, may I suggest the brown rice version and making a pumpkin seed butter out of Sea Salt Pumpkin Seeds and using it as a rice cake topper?
6. STORE BOUGHT TRAIL MIX
Store-bought trail mix can be deceiving.
It’s usually made with a combination of nuts and seeds which sounds pretty healthy, but add in chocolate chips, candy pieces (or candied fruit), refined oils, salt, sugar and artificial flavourings like MSG. Now your seemingly healthy snack has become an addictive dessert.
You can make your own trail mix using Skuta seeds by adding 1 cup of Sea Salt Pumpkin Seeds, with 2-3 Tbsp dark chocolate chips, 2-3 Tbsp raw almonds or pecans, and 2-3 Tbsp of unsweetened cranberries.
7. SUGARY CEREALS
Dry cereal is another popular portable snack option. However, it too may contain added sugar and not provide you with the staying power like pumpkin seeds do.
However, one neat trick that we use in the morning when feeding our kids cereal is by sprinkling Sea Salt Pumpkin Seeds on top of the cereal. This adds a crunch factor as well as a nutritional boost.
8. MICROWAVE POPCORN
Though popcorn in and of itself is okay as a wholesome snack, bagged microwave popcorn has some hidden ‘not so healthy’ secrets. The bag used to cook the popcorn may be lined with toxic chemicals such as PFC’s. Because popcorn is made from corn, a grain, it’s not really a snack that adds a lot of nutrition, or satiety.
9. BOXED COOKIES
Store-bought cookies are definitely convenient, but they are often loaded with sugar, refined flour, artificial colouring, and preservatives. And, one thing that I notice every time I look at conventional cookies are the expiry dates. Something that lasts years in a box might not always be the healthiest option to snack on.
Skuta seeds contain no added sugar and are satisfying on their own, but if you are really on the hunt for a cookie that is going to nourish you and taste amazing, try adding pumpkin seeds to these breakfast cookies.
10. STORE BOUGHT GRANOLA
Another snack option that we’re led to believe is wholesome, however store-bought granola can be laden with sugar and baked in refined oils. Simply sprinkle Skuta seeds on your morning yogurt in place of store-bought granola.
11. SALTED & ROASTED FLAVOURED NUTS
Yes, nuts can be a wholesome snack but if you choose to buy the flavoured or salted varieties you may be ingesting a lot of salt, artificial flavours, colours, preservatives, and highly processed oils.
Dry roasted is always the best way to go with nuts and seeds, here is a guide to why dry roasted seeds matter. BONUS, the Chili Maple Jango flavour is enough added flavour you really won’t need anything else.
12. POPULAR PROTEIN BARS
Protein bars, like granola bars, are often considered a healthy alternative to chocolate bars. Yet, if you look at the ingredients you may see they have lots of fillers, additives, and even sugar.
Protein bars were designed to add protein to your diet to sustain your hunger cues until the next meal or offer essential amino acids post-exercise. You’ll be happy to find out that Skuta seeds offer up a high amount of protein, healthy fats and fiber. Enough to keep you feeling full and help you recover after working out.
13. GUMMY FRUIT SNACKS
Fruit snacks can be a great treat, but a lot of companies can play trickery, and get the consumers to think they are eating real fruit as a healthy alternative.
Most conventional fruit snacks are high in sugar and they won’t keep you full for long, as they do not contain any protein or healthy fats.
14. DONUT OR COFFEE SHOP MUFFINS
Muffins are often perceived as a healthier alternative to cookies and snacks, but in reality, they may not be. Those donut or coffee shop muffins are loaded with sugar, most likely made with refined flour and are nothing but cake shaped like a muffin.
15. BOXED CRACKERS
Like store-bought cookies, store-bought crackers are just as processed and often times loaded with fat, salt, artificial ingredients, colours, MSG, and even sugar.
There are a lot of healthy cracker brands out there, but Skuta seeds offer up that crunch factor without any of the processing or artificial ingredients. Another fun treat I’d like to add is by taking a whole-food based whole grain cracker and topping it with some pumpkin seed butter.
There are so many ways you can take Skuta’s pumpkin seeds on-the-go with you. We’d love to see your favourite way to Skuta and don’t forget to tag us @skutapumpkin and use #snackskuta for a chance to be featured.
