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Plenty of us love potato chips although we know that they aren’t the healthiest snack on the planet! In an ideal world we’d be crunching down on some carrot sticks or an apple every time- but these don’t always satisfy our cravings. If you’re looking for some satisfying snacks that are healthier than chips (and still pretty yummy) you’ll want to take a look. 

  1. Popcorn 

 Once upon a time, popcorn was a sugary food to be avoided on the quest for a healthy snack. Thankfully those days are gone, plenty of brands now offer popcorn snacks without any added sugars that are also low in calories. These plain popcorn snacks can contain calcium, iron and zinc. They arrive in a range of tasty flavours from cinnamon to sweet chilli. Healthline states that plain air-popped corn only contains around 31 calories per cup. 

 For those who can’t resist the crunch- why not try some vegetable chips? Vegetable chips come in a huge variety; from beetroot to zucchini or carrot. You’ll find a healthier alternative to your potato chips with a range that’s just as mouth-watering. There are plenty of brands to choose from, or you could opt for making your own at home. All you have to do is slice your vegetables thin enough, use the correct amount of oil and then bake. Recipes for vegetable chips will vary depending on the vegetable, and there are plenty to be found online. 

 If you’re looking for an alternative snack food to potato chips, look no further than a delicious pretzel. Nutritionally, pretzels contain fiber and B vitamins. For a tasty snack that fills you up, soft pretzels are the way to go. Pretzels do not contain as many calories as some other salty treats so you can indulge in their yumminess without the guilt! Homemade pretzels are especially tasty- so much that you might ditch the chips for good! 

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 For a snack that’s something a little bit different, you’ll want to try Edamame. These are immature soybeans and can be purchased shelled or inside their pods. A little salt is often added when they are served as a snack. You’ll find these in your local Japanese restaurant served as an appetizer. The best snack kind is probably the dried or shelled variety, but you can also boil up the fresh beans if you prefer. These are high in protein and may help to lower your cholesterol levels (not bad for a snack)! 

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We all love a snack between meals, but it’s not great to reach for the potato chips every time! When it comes to nutrition, it’s essential to think carefully about what we are putting into our bodies. It’s important to ensure that we are getting enough whole foods like fruits, vegetables and grains to keep our bodies and minds healthy. Try trading your next packet of chips for one of these lovely snacks and see what you think! 

If you don’t have a deep passion for food, then we’re not really sure why. Loving food seems to be high on so many peoples list of things to do, and that’s simply because there are so many great recipes out there to try that really tickles your taste buds. If you have a look at all of the different cuisines around the world, you will see an array of foods that we know and love. If it wasn’t for people having a deep passion for food, we as humans would never have been able to create these wonderful masterpieces. But if you know you love food, but you don’t really explore the options that are out there that much, you just like what you know, then this article is going to try and change that for you. There’s so many undiscovered foods that you will not have tried, that we just know you’re going to love. So, we’re going to spark a bit of interest for you, and show you some food ideas for the true foodie in you.

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For those of you that aren’t meat lovers, then the next section should be something that suits you. But for those of you that love meat, we’ve definitely got a treat that’s hard to beat. Normally, you would only find the little bundles of joy that’s pigs in blankets at Christmas, but why can this not be a treat that can be enjoyed all year round? Bacon wrapped hot dogs oven made are so tasty, and the should be made at any time of the year. They’re perfect for a random mid week meal when mixed with whatever you want to partner them with. They’re just so tasty, and it’s a double meat dish that just can’t be ignored. Another classic is the steak. But don’t just go for your average packaged steak from the supermarket. Get yourself to the butchers and buy a proper fresh cut of meat!

Something sweet is definitely what you should be thinking about. We’ve all got some sort of sweet tooth, and sometimes you just have to set it free. So one idea we love, is making your own homemade profiteroles. You really can’t go wrong with these. They’re the perfect mixture of pastries, sweet creaminess and chocolate on the top. They’re easier than they sound to make, you just need to find a good recipe online that you can follow. Again, these are perfect for a random treat, and even better for a dinner party if you have one coming up.

Travelling is one of the best things that you can do, and if you love food, it doesn’t matter where in the world you go, you’ll be able to find something amazing that isn’t quite the same as what’s nearby you. So think about some of the big foodie places in the world, such as Rome or anywhere in Italy, Spain, and America. If you have got a holiday coming up, plan it out so that you can hit some really good food places!

Autumn is fast approaching, the cooler temperatures are setting in and soon the leaves will be turning, although you might think it’s time to retire and head indoors fall can e the perfect time to be outdoors too. The best bit about it is that there are loads of activities you can do with the kids that won't break the bank which helps when you're on a budget. 

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Have a look below at some of the activities you could try this fall to keep the kids busy, happy and all on a family-friendly budget:

Jut because the cooler weather is setting in doesn't mean that you can’t enjoy the great outdoors, In, fact this can often be a better time of the year to go on an outdoor adventure as you aren't trying to keep cool in the sun. Why not think about creating a tick sheet that includes items for the kids to tick off as you’re walking. Think about things such as streams, acorns, squirrels, colored leaves or maybe even deer. 

This goes hand in hand with the nature hike however you don't always have to go hiking to set out and enjoy a homemade picnic. The weather is perfect, and you could even add a flask of hot chocolate as an extra little touch. You could even consider packing things such as apple cider for the adults to enjoy. Fall makes the perfect time of year for the kids to enjoy the local park and admire the beauty of the turning leaves, why not collect some leaves for a crafts project at home? 

Fall means it’s time for Halloween, which is most definitely a favorite for families. A really fun activity for you and your kids is to visit a local pumpkin patch and go pick a few pumpkins for at home, while you’re there you can also get some fantastic photos for making a scrapbook or putting on the wall. You may want to pick a few extra juicy pumpkins and look for a good pumpkin pie recipe, as you’re going to need to perfect that pie for Thanksgiving. 

Once you’ve visited the pumpkin patch, you have the perfect excuse to have a pumpkin competition and carve some jack-o’ lanterns ready for Halloween, pick a day where the whole family can get involved. You could even look for some stencils online for interesting patterns to carve, or possibly even paint them to look like characters or as a centerpiece for your table. Don’t forget to include candles as part of your budget too! 

This time of year is the perfect time for roasting marshmallows on an open fire. Whether you go camping and enjoy making s’ mores or take to the family garden with a warm blanket and stargaze for the evening, nothing beats sitting around the open fire, getting toasty and chomping on some delicious sweet treats

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There are so many different ways you can have fun and not break the bank this fall. Do you have any activities that you could share in the comments section below? 

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There are many things that you can suffer from healthwise, and it's absolutely nothing to worry about. If you can still carry on about your day, then it's common to ignore symptoms. However, there are some you really shouldn't ignore and should get checked out as soon as you can:

Toothache
While this is a hard one to ignore as it's excruciating, it is something that with a few painkillers you might be able to mask and disregard for a while as it's only a tooth, right? Wrong, if the pain continues, then you really shouldn't ignore it. Painful toothache can mean that your tooth's nerves are exposed and if you catch it early enough, the problem can be solved with a simple filling, whereas if left unchecked you could end up with an infected nerve and need expensive root canal treatment. Make sure you go to your dentist regularly, at least every six months, and get attention as soon as you notice an obvious problem that can't just be dismissed as sensitivity.

Ringing In Your Ears
This could be a bit of an annoyance at first, but it could be tinnitus which left untreated could get worse and become unbearable. If you have also noticed a decrease in your hearing, no matter how small, this could be the beginning of gradual hearing loss, so it's essential to get it checked out as soon as possible. Click here to learn more about hearing aids and how they can help.

Bloating
After a big meal, it's pretty common to feel bloated, and for women, it's common to feel bloated before your period, but you're feeling bloated on an almost daily basis, then it's worth checking it out. 

Chest Pain
This is another one which can be easily dismissed as it could just be indigestion or heartburn. It's difficult to know when it's something more serious, and the chances are, you probably won't know, but it's better not to take the risk. Severe pressure on your chest or upper abdominal pain could be the warning signs of a heart attack, so it's better to be safe than sorry and go and see a doctor. 

Unexplained Weight Loss
Rather than a reason to get excited, experiencing weight loss with no explanation and if it is sudden weight loss too then, it could be a reason to be concerned. Unexplained weight loss could be a sign of illness, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid. 

Headaches
While headaches can be self-inflicted, with those, you'll probably know why you have them, but sudden crippling headaches that stop you in your tracks could be a reason to be concerned and should not be ignored. They could well be one of several things, including meningitis, or even a brain aneurysm.  If you have been suffering intense headaches which come out of the blue, then definitely don't ignore it. 

Having regular checkups should be on your agenda anyway and that way you can make sure to discuss everything and hopefully prevent anything serious as you can discuss lifestyle with the healthcare professionals too. 

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It sometimes feels like you have to be the ones who help everyone, you're the parents, and you have your kids to look after, but as your parents get older then you have to look after them too, but what if the other two could help each other? Well, they can and here are a few ways how:

Boosting Cognitive Performance
Although small children can be mentally exhausting, spending time with them can actually boost your 'parent's cognitive performance. A study from the US National Library of Medicine said that postmenopausal women who spend just one day a week taking care of their grandchildren have the highest cognitive performance among their peers.

Increases Knowledge
A close relationship between grandparents and grandchildren can increased knowledge on both sides. Grandparents can teach your children a number of life lessons and pass down cultural history, tell them stories about their lives and the rest of the family and even you as a youngster. But on the other hand, your kids can also teach your parents a lot as they can keep their grandparents up to date on the latest trends and help them with technology - they can be really useful for helping with hearing aids, click here to see more about troubleshooting. 

Lowers Risk Of Alzheimer's
Grandparents who spend time with their grandchildren can also lower their risk of Alzheimer's, and according to report from CBS News, women who look after their grandkids have a lower risk of the disease than other people.

Lowers Risk Of Depression
Many grandparents know that spending time with their grandchildren makes them feel happy, but it can actually be even more beneficial than that. A good relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren - young or adult is good for the psychological health of both your parents and your children. According to CBS News, the closer the bond, the stronger the anti-depressive benefits.

Boosts Energy
Although your children are bound to tire out your parents, the time they spend together can actually make your parents become more active. Kids have so much energy that it can be infectious, your parents will still be exhausted after spending time with them, but 'they'll be guaranteed a good 'night's sleep.

 

Boosts Social Life
Many older people find themselves feeling lonely, but having grandchildren can keep them feeling socially fulfilled. According to a study from the US National Library of Medicine, being a grandparent "promotes a socially active lifestyle that may be beneficial to cognitive ageing."

Strengthens The Immune System
Children are full of germs, 'they're always catching things, carrying things and eating and touching things they shouldn't. However, this can be a really good thing because spending time with grandchildren can help to boost your 'parent's immune system.

Increases Longevity
Having grandchildren and spending time with them can actually make people live longer and a study which was reported in The Sydney Morning Herald said that grandparents who regularly cared for their grandchildren lived longer than grandparents who 'didn't spend time with their 'kids' children.

Reduces Stress
When your parents spend time with your children, they will no doubt end up smiling and laughing a lot which are incredible forms of stress relief.