Healthy TV Snacks — It Is Not A Myth

What to eat in front of the TV? Better nothing. No, seriously! After dinner we are full enough to continue eating. Except the heavy stomach, the unprocessed food and the unused calories, we are automatically willing to consume copious amounts of food in one completely inappropriate time.

The habits are our second nature. I really don’t know where this particular one comes from — eating in front of the TV, and, on top of that, certain things like microwave popcorn or roasted salty nuts. These are the most widespread TV foods. What comes next is chips, corn sticks, crackers and so on. These all walk at the edge of healthy cooking, while some of them, like chips and popcorns are genuinely unhealthy.

Nevertheless, if our habit is too strong — what are our options?

Eating Healthy Popcorns — Make Them Yourself

OK, but what kind? Search for real popcorn, not the one in the bags with “extra butter”. Do you really think it’s genuine butter inside? They are twice the price, but at least you have control over the added butter and salt. Ten minutes of your free time before the TV show, and a skillet with transparent lid you can supply yourselves with a huge portion of popcorns. When they start popping, however, you will have to turn down the hob power slightly and shake more intensively.

Home-Made Bruschetta

If you are a true gastronome and insist to pamper yourselves even in front of the TV, you can spare a bit more time and prepare home-made bruschetta. If you like flavoured butter, it will be even healthier and tastier meal. You will just have to cut a French baguette in very thin circles and brown them slightly on the oven rack. While still hot, spread butter or just a mixture of olive oil and garlic. The smell will first draw your family in the kitchen, and then in front of the TV.

Home-Made Croutons

Home-Made Croutons are also an idea for a bite in front of the TV. They are even more delicious if you use old bread. Coat the cubes in olive oil, garlic powder, salt and brown them in the oven for around 15 minutes. You can experiment bravely with the spices and the kind of bread. The advantage is, unlike bought croutons, you know exactly what you put in your mouth.

Nuts and Seeds

They are very healthy, but mostly when they are raw. The only ones which are not recommended are peanuts. They are considerably heavier and oilier, especially for later hours. Peeled raw nuts and seeds, without any added flavours or salt are one really good alternative to unhealthy TV meals. Yet, you shouldn’t eat too much, since nuts are full of calories and contain a lot of oils, which can cause you unpleasant stomach disorder.

Dried Fruits

Again a healthy alternative. Dried fruits can also help you with a number of diseases. You have to be careful if you suffer from diabetes, because they contain too much sugar. The store-bought ones can be processed with different chemical compounds, so it is better to buy home-made or dry the fruits ourselves. Do not confuse dried fruits with sugar-coated ones. The difference is immense.

Cooked Chickpeas

Soak it in water early in the morning, and you will have quite a healthy snack for the TV in the evening. You just need to boil it for around 20 minutes. Let’s not forget, if you roast it, it will turn into its classic version. However, the boiled chickpeas is far healthier. You can add boiled corn, too, as it is a very popular type of fast food on the street corners. Let’s add a bit of butter and parmigiana to turn it into a food marvel.

Fresh Fruits And Veggies

The easiest to cook and the healthiest to eat — fresh fruits and vegetables. Cut your favourite fruits and veggies in small, unusual forms — carrots, pepper and cucumbers in sticks or circles, put the grapes in a big bowl instead of chips and popcorns. What about the good old fruit salad or veggie sticks? Kids love them — you know that the looks of food is more important than its taste qualities.

To Sum Up

Nowadays the majority of us want just to sit down after the long hard-working day in front of the big screen, to release the tension and worries and make up for it with some kind of food. Most of the times it has been prepared by someone else. It comes into an attractive rustling pack stuffed with E-supplements to keep its price low, and the expiration date — longer. But if you are the type of person, who enjoys watching TV during the evening, let this food be a little bit healthier.

For more info on the possible ways to reduce unhealthy eating, check out the following article.