Everyone loves to snack. Indeed, in many situations where time is constrained, snacking is how millions of people get through the day. Many gym members and athletes rely on protein bars and other energy snacks to power through. Office workers on deadlines snack at their desks, and not always with healthy options.

GlobeNewswire reports that the world’s snack foods market will grow to around $730 billion by 2026. This huge revenue is partly attributed to modern lifestyles, and partly by a desire to see more healthy snacks available.

The problem is though, that even some of the supposedly healthy snacks and treats aren’t that good for you. Hidden additives, HFCS, salt, sugar, and other ingredients that have no true health benefits are included in snack bars.

So should you just cut this part of your diet out, or is there a way to make it healthier?

 

How do you make snacking healthier?

There is one way to make sure your snacks are healthy, and that is to only use whole ingredients. This basically means that all your snacks should be unprocessed and as nature wanted them to be consumed.

For example, nuts and fruit. However, everyone knows that eating carrot sticks is a healthy snack option. But you also know that you’ll get tired pretty quickly of eating berries and cucumbers.

So, instead of adopting that option entirely, look at making your own. One option is to use your kitchen appliances.

Blenders can be used to make great smoothies, and you can make this heavy with protein if needed. Also, use an air fryer to make interesting snacks to mix things up.

There are many many benefits to adopting a vegan lifestyle, and lowering fat intake is another great way to be healthier. So, it may seem odd that an appliance with the word “fryer” in it would be beneficial to your health.

 

Why are air fryer snacks healthier?

Try to ignore the fried aspect of the appliance name, and concentrate on the first word instead. Everyone knows that air is good for you, in fact, we need it to live. Not everyone knows you can cook with it though.

An air fryer will cook any type of snack you fancy just by using hot air. Now, that can’t be too bad, can it?

 

What health benefits would you gain from eating air fryer snacks?

It isn’t just the way that air fryers work that means you will make healthy snacks. It is the fact that you are in charge that truly helps.

Processed snacks, including the better ones, still contain some nasty ingredients such as soy protein isolate. When you make your own snacks you will get to choose exactly what goes in, and what doesn’t.

ResearchGate shows that the US produces more than half the world’s waste cooking oil every year. By using an air fryer you will be helping to reduce that figure, and your snacks will be lower in fat.

You can use only the salt and sugar that you choose. You will have no allergens to worry about, no additives, and you can choose the freshest organic ingredients.

 

What kinds of snacks can be made in an air fryer?

Air fryers are very good at cooking ingredients that resemble fried food, however, that isn’t all they do. They make great fish dishes and can cook corn on the cob too.

When it comes to snacks, then you can make apple chips in air fryer, or popcorn without the butter. Cook crispy chickpeas and season them with Indian spices and fresh herbs.

Pretzels and tortilla chips can be made in an air fryer. If you want something naughty but you’re feeling resilient then switch French fries for sweet potato fries or even spicy carrot fries.

And, if you are getting to the point where you can’t face another vegetable then make something you love in the knowledge that you can still make it healthier.

 

Can you make your regular food in an air fryer but healthier?

Snacks are great, but you need to eat a proper meal sometime. If you’ve invested in an air fryer to help you make some delicious snacks then you may as well try to get the most you can out of it.

Cook chicken and fish, along with potato and vegetable dishes in the air fryer. You can do this safely knowing that you are still keeping your calorie count down. Because you aren’t using oil, you will be consuming far fewer calories.

 

Summary

There are kitchen must-haves and kitchen mistakes. Choosing an air fryer might be in the first category if you want to make some healthy snacks that you actually enjoy.

Berries and nuts are great, but sometimes you just fancy something a bit naughtier. Even potato wedges are on the healthier side once they are air-fried. No oil means fewer calories, and it also means less waste.