March Madness just started.  It is a great time to get together with friends to watch the games. Of course, with those fun gatherings come snacks, and often with the snacks come the extra cholesterol we don’t need, putting us at risk of heart-related problems. However, there is no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy some great healthy snacks with the games, so long as we are smart about it.

With so many healthy choices in snacks today there really is no reason why we should choose otherwise.  You’re thinking, “Oh, they’re probably going to tell me to eat a salad.” But no, there is a world of awesome snacks out there that are perfectly heart healthy and come with other benefits too. Here are some March Madness snacking tips.

Healthy Snacking Choices for March Madness

Hummus

It’s great with celery or slices of tomato, packed with protein and good for you.  You can add some garlic or pesto to change it up a bit or even some spices. Dip some baked quinoa chips in it and you have a winner. A bean dip or some home-made guacamole is also a great idea as the fats in avocado are good for you.

Nuts

Need more great healthy snack ideas for the NCAA tournament? Nuts are always a great choice. Walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts are all good for your heart and tasty as well.

Heartier March Madness Snacks

Chicken Fingers

How about chicken fingers? When it comes to sports grill classics, you just have to be a little creative to enjoy some of your favorites. For example, use an air fryer instead of your typical deep fryer, and make sure you use lean chicken and go easy on the breading. This way you have an awesome snack fit for a sports bar without the trip to the cardiologist.

Salmon and Tuna

Salmon and tuna are also excellent choices. You can have some sashimi completely guilt-free! Just don’t overdo the soy sauce and you should be fine.

And here you thought we were going to suggest lettuce – but wait, there is more.

Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is actually heart healthy, so long as it is not overly sweet and has a cocoa value of about 70 percent or more. Think of all the things you can make with it, such as chocolate-covered strawberries. And while we are on the topic of strawberries, you can dip those in yogurt as well.

Fruits

This is an obvious choice, but since we just mentioned strawberries it should be stated that all berries are incredibly good for you. Packed with antioxidants, they should be part of your NCAA 2019 extravaganza. But not all fruit choices are going to be winners, so try to avoid the super sugary ones like mangoes, pineapples, and grapes.

UrgentMED Will Help Keep You on the Right Track

All of these healthy snack ideas should keep you away from urgent care, but if you do need to see a doctor at any point, UrgentMED is nearby with 16 locations in Southern California. Our services are cost-efficient and we accept most insurance plans. UrgentMED is open every day of the year with extended hours on weekdays. Visit us online to find the location nearest to you.