Eating organic and healthy foods is a no brainer when it comes to improving your wellbeing. But be warned – just because something is in the organic aisle doesn’t mean that it is the best alternative to your favorite snacks But if it’s made of puffed organic rice how can it be bad? The Clues While perusing through the organic section of my local food mart I noticed something. It’s very easy to be encouraged by everything labeled as “healthy” and “organic.” Being a discerning shopper, and a fairly good food detective, I know to look for the label that tells me if something is Certified Organic or simply a label slapped on to show me that some of the ingredients are organic. Without this official seal there may be other ingredients that don’t come from organic sources. Always look for the Certified Organic and the non-GMO seal that lets you know the product fits the high standards you are looking for. This isn’t to say you should stop reading labels once you notice the seal. You still want to check the ingredient label for any added colors or other ingredients that you personally may want to avoid. What Danger is in Safe Alternatives? You don’t have to give up snacking just because you want to change your unhealthy ways. There are plenty of alternatives out there to get your crunchy snack fix. In fact, finding healthy substitutions for your savory or sweet cravings is important for your body. However, when you notice there is low salt in your snack you have to keep in mind the other items in your cart. While something is low salt or low sweetener, once you add these things together with your other groceries, you may actually still be getting a lot more salt or sweet than what you planned for. It is like when we see something that has low calories and our minds thinks “Oh, I can eat more of it,” when in reality that would be much worse for your health than the original option. Once you add up all the sodium in your meal, drinks, and snacks throughout your day, you may find you are taking in more than you bargained for. These are the hidden dangers that can still be found in your healthy and organic foods. The other hidden dangers are foods that are labeled gluten-free. Eating too much gluten isn’t good for anyone. But, even worse, many times foods labeled as gluten free are still not good for you once you add them to all the other items in your menu. If you read the labels some gluten-free foods are loaded with extra sugars. You can take a look at what both WebMD and MindBodyGreen. Some Yummy Alternatives Try alternatives like zucchini strings in place of pasta! Or zucchini to make a lasagna or a tasty parmesan! It is amazing how nicely it holds up to these lovely oven comfort foods! Organic extra-firm tofu can be used in place of meat in any dish! Freezing firm tofu gives it a meaty, almost hamburger-like texture. Large portabella mushroom caps make great hamburger alternatives that even meat-lovers love! Nori (seaweed) is very tasty and can be found in packets just right for snacking. It has a natural salty taste. If you don’t like it plain you can add it to any meal. Be careful how you combine your food to keep salt and sweet under control. Whenever you can, find natural raw alternatives to add to your meals in order to keep your meals and snacks healthy. Applications & Resources

• Check out The 21 Best Organic Junk Foods for your snacking but keep an eye on those ingredients that can add up
• Go to here to enjoy some food alternatives (just remember organic is best!)
• Read a little about some other healthy snack options at Livestrong

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