Are you often greedy, and when you see snacks that are advertised as plant-based, with a refreshing appearance and simple ingredients, you will think, "This should be healthier than others, right?" But sometimes when you look carefully at the ingredient list, you find that there are actually many nutritional traps hidden inside. In this regard, Dr. Qiu Xiaochen breaks down five common vegetarian snack options and analyzes their advantages and disadvantages, so that we can all eat happily and with peace of mind.
1. Digestive biscuits
The name is healthy, but they may not always help digestion
Many people think that "digestive biscuits" are healthier and even suitable for elders or children, but they are mostly made of refined flour, sugar and oil, and some also add hydrogenated vegetable oil. A few pieces of biscuits may be close to the calories of a bowl of white rice, and the ratio of sugar to oil is not low.
Advantages: easy to obtain, easy to store, quick to eliminate hunger
Note: The calories are not low, and the type of fat needs to be paid attention to. It is recommended to eat in moderation
2. Peanut kernel soup
Warm and sweet soup, the devil of sugar
Peanut itself is a source of high-quality fat and protein, but when it turns into sweet soup, it is often accompanied by excess calories. One bowl of it can contain 400 to 500 calories, and the sugar content can even exceed 25 grams.
． Advantages: Provides a feeling of satiety and is rich in protein
. Note: People with blood sugar control or those with high blood pressure should consider the frequency and portion size.
3. Ready-to-eat seaweed slices
are light in appearance and be careful of high sodium
Many people like to eat seaweed slices because they are thin and not burdensome to eat. However, commercially available seaweed sometimes adds a large amount of salt, oil and seasoning powder to enhance the flavor. The sodium content of a small package may exceed 300 mg.
． Advantages: Rich in iodine and some minerals
. Note: There are many seasonings, especially when feeding to children, be sure to control the portion size and frequency
4. Hantian Jelly
Low calorie does not mean high nutrition
Hantian jelly is a good source of dietary fiber, but some commercially available Hantian jelly is filled with additional ingredients: artificial sweeteners, spices, colorings, etc., and some do not even contain real juice. Eating too much may also cause flatulence, which is especially unfriendly to people with sensitive constitutions.
． Advantages: low calorie, satiating
. Note: The nutritional value is limited. It is recommended to eat it occasionally. If you really want to eat jelly often, consider making your own DIY jelly with 100% fruit juice.
5. Add dried candies.
Originally it is fruit, but more sugar is added.
Dried fruit is originally a concentrated form of fruit, but some items on the market add additional sugar and oil. The sugar content per 100 grams may exceed 30 grams, causing blood sugar fluctuations.
． Advantages: Rich in dietary fiber and trace elements
. Note: You can feel more at ease by looking for "no added sugar" when purchasing, and be careful not to overeat
Qiu Xiaochen emphasized that food itself is not absolutely good or bad, the key lies in "the way you eat it" and "how often you eat it." It’s not that you can’t eat these snacks, but you need to see their true ingredients and nutritional value. If you often eat certain snacks because you “feel healthy”, it’s worth reading and analyzing the ingredient labels more carefully.