We all know that you are what you eat, and no where is this more evident than with the condition of your skin. I daresay you can tell how healthy a woman is by the color and texture of her skin.

It’s pretty easy to eat well for meals. For breakfast, eggs are your best friends. I eat a ton of eggs and fresh vegetables with good fats (veggies and fats work together so your body can absorb the vitamins, so butter your carrots!!) Salads are great for summer lunches, and soups make a great wintertime meal anytime. For dinner, we do a lot of wild salmon and pastured chicken and grass-fed beef along with more veggies — usually roasted for the best flavor and texture.

 

But what about snacks?

Ditch the pre-packaged snack foods. Anything designed for prolonged shelf life is probably not going to nourish your body or your skin. Here is a list of eight real snack foods that will nourish your body and particularly your skin.

8 Healthy Snacks to Nourish Your Skin

  1. Nuts. We’ve already discussed the benefits Brazil Nuts. Almonds are also great for the skin as they contain anti-oxidants and vitamin E. Mixed nuts and trail mixes (a variety of nuts and dried fruits) make fabulous snacks on the go.
  2. Cheese. Stay away from the processed cheese sticks, and heaven forbid, American cheese slices. Opt instead for good quality organic raw cheddar if you can find it, or other good quality organic cheeses. I stick with organic dairy so as to avoid unnecessary hormones and antibiotics.
  3. NOTE: many people have sensitivities to dairy, especially pasteurized dairy and soft cheeses. If you feel that eating cheese causes break outs, then you’ll certainly want to avoid this one! Usually, though, people who are sensitive to pasteurized dairy can tolerate raw dairy quite well. In fact, raw dairy is incredibly nourishing and I try to incorporate it into my diet at least once a day.
  4. Red and Green Peppers. Red and green veggies provide vitamin A, which is crucial to healthy skin. Peppers are crunchy and refreshing. They also taste great dipped into ranch dressing! (You get bonus points if you make the dressing yourself!!)
  5. Kale Chips. Buy them or make them, but kale is incredibly nourishing — another great source of vitamin A and anti-oxidants — and kale chips are delicious.
  6. Berries. Again with the anti-oxidants. Also, berries have the least amount of sugar of all the fruits so feel free to eat them with reckless abandon! Or at least until the fiber gets ya.
  7. Hard-Boiled Eggs. Eggs have vitamin A, plus they’re a great source of protein that will fill you up.
  8. Green Tea. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties and you can feel good about sipping it all day long. You can actually apply it topically to reduce sun damage or to combat puffy eyes in the morning.
  9. Water, water, water. Okay, I know it doesn’t SOUND like a snack, but sometimes when you think you’re hungry, you’re really just thirsty. When I’m trying to cut back on snacking, but I get the craving to munch on something, I grab a tall glass of water instead and sip on it as I go about my day. No, it’s not as tasty as munching on potato chips, but your hips will thank you.

What would you add to this list? What’s your favorite healthy snack?