Women's Health

WOMEN’SHEALTH

Healthy Snacks for Women

living a healthy lifestyle not only means finding time to be physically active but also means watching what you put into your body. For bigger meals, meal prepping and planning can help to ensure your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs. But when it comes to snacking, staying away from sweet treats and prepackaged munchies can be a little harder. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to reach for those indulgences every once in a while, but there are many healthy alternatives that are easy and fun to create!

The word snack isn’t the first to come to mind when seeking to live a healthy lifestyle. Most people are under the impression that less is more when it comes to a healthy diet, but rather than the amount of food, think about the types of food you are consuming. According to Women’s Health, a snack should be thought of as a mini meal meant to contain protein, carbs and healthy fats. These mini meals can help satisfy hunger between larger meals, which can prevent binging and overeating, as well as provide energy to help you throughout the day.

A healthy munchie can be as easy as a bag of salted nuts or some fruit or veggies. But if you want to go the extra mile, you can snack prep to maximize nutrition and minimize time spent making snacks during busy back-to-school days. Prepping treats at the beginning of a week can relieve stress and also provide an incentive to reach for the healthy snacks when you need a pick-me-up.

Greek yogurt is full of protein and healthy probiotics that can increase gut health. Add some fruit and granola to up the fiber levels and provide a yummy and satisfying snack. Creating a frozen yogurt bark that contains fruit and granola is delicious and easy and keeps well throughout the week. It's as easy as spreading a yogurt flavor of choice in a pan lined with parchment paper, adding some fruit, such as blueberries or strawberries, and sprinkling some granola on top to garnish. For some extra sweetness, try adding dark chocolate chips. Pop the pan in the freezer until bark is solid. Break apart by hand, put into individual packaging for the week and enjoy!

For something that doesn't require freezing, try peanut butter protein balls. These protein-packed snacks are no-bake and only require six simple ingredients. To get the most protein possible, start with a protein powder of your choice. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 c. of smooth peanut butter, 1/2 c. of honey and 1 1/3 c. rolled oats. Mix ingredients together using a spatula or large spoon. Next, add a pinch of salt and 1/2 c. dark chocolate chips. After mixing ingredients together, hand roll the mixture into balls and place them on a pan. Allow the protein balls to harden in the refrigerator for approximately one hour then enjoy throughout the week!

Having fun with healthy snacks keeps your energy levels up and hunger levels down!

Tori Sarver is an intern for KC Parent. She is studying strategic communications and journalism at CU Boulder. She enjoys yogurt and granola as a daily snack!

Our cat really likes scratching the side of our couch. We normally don’t care because it’s an old couch, but we are getting new furniture soon and we would like for her not do that. Any tips on how we can undo the behavior we let slide for so long?

– Michelle Holland

scratchers. Also, do not force your cat to use a scratcher by scratching it with your hands. This can scare your cat and deter her from using it.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

I recommend getting several scratchers of different quality and textures and putting them all in the living room. Some should go right next to the couch where she frequently claws. Some cats like vertical scratchers and others like horizontal scratchers, so try different kinds until you fi nd the one your cat enjoys. There are scents and catnip that you can put on the scratcher to lure her to it if she doesn’t show interest initially. Start rewarding her when she is using a scratcher instead of your couch. I also recommend trimming her claws frequently so they do less damage and their quicks remain short. I do not recommend throwing away her favorite scratchers because they don’t look nice anymore. This can cause frustration. Cats normally like the scraggly textured Is it safe to use Benadryl on dogs for allergies? – Matt Jacobson Benadryl is a medication used commonly for mild to moderate allergies in dogs. Talk to your vet about dosage amounts and if Benadryl is the best medication for your pet’s allergies. If your pet has more severe allergies, your veterinarian might want to try other medications or recommend an allergy test to pinpoint what your dog is allergic to.

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

My older dog seems to be exhibiting signs of dementia. Can dogs get Alzheimer’s? She seems to get confused and loses her sense of direction easily in her older age. – Brandon Vasquez

Yes, dogs can get dementia. It’s called Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS) and it is not curable, however, the symptoms can be treated. If you think your dog could possibly have CDS, I recommend visiting your veterinarian to learn more since it affects memory, learning, and comprehension. Some symptoms of CDS are anxiety, failing to remember routines, slowness in learning new things, staring blankly at walls or nothing, lethargy, lack of self-grooming, not responding when called, and aimless wandering. Early detection can help with symptom treatment. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Are you looking for the happiest dog on earth? Do you want a companion to go on adventures with, but also Netfl ix and chill? Your search is over! We have just the pup for you. Dublin loves to go on walks, meet new people, and play with other dogs that are just as energetic as he is. He is quite the smart pup too and is housetrained and knows commands! You would surely be Dublin’ your joy if you brought him home today! Contact adoptions@greatplainsspca.org to come meet this bubbly boy!

Email askashley@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered in

KC Parent magazine. Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Senior Director of Animal Behavior and Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.

Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501(c)(3) no kill shelter, with a 98% live release rate, GPSPCA provides lifesaving services for approximately 4,000 animals annually in the greater Kansas City area. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities with which we are contracted, including Overland Park, Leawood, Lenexa, Prairie Village, Shawnee, Bonner Springs, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks Department and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.