Photo 5/5
When You Feel a Cold Coming on
-2 tablespoons dried blueberries
-2 tablespoons dried goji berries
-2 tablespoons Brazil nuts
-1 tablespoon pine nuts
When you're starting to come down with something icky, it's best to load up on antioxidant-rich foods. Rather than downing a packet of Emergen-C, try a snack mix that contains the super fruit goji berries. Loaded with folic acid, fiber and vitamin C, goji berries offer the nutritional benefits of multiple fruits combined. But your body will absorb more of the vitamins when you consume it with other fruits, says certified nutritionist, personal trainer and exercise physiologist Franci Cohen -- which is why we've paired this nutrient powerhouse with antioxidant-rich blueberries. Brazil nuts seal the deal with another immune-boosting punch.
Let's face it -- we don't always have time to whip up a healthy snack, and more often than not, we turn to the quickest, easiest and not-so-healthiest solution (read: something from the nearest vending machine). In lieu of that solution we spoke with nutritionists and dieticians Franci Cohen and Nicolette Pace, who created five easy, healthy snack mixes you can take anywhere. "Snack mixes are ideal because you get a concentration of energy and calories," says Pace, "but they don't take up much volume in your stomach so you don't bloat." So instead of reaching for a snack-size candy bar when you're crashing at your desk midday, swap it out for one of these snack mix recipes you can make in bulk and eat all week long (just don't go too crazy with portion sizes).