High cholesterol levels do not have to spell bad days when it comes to eating. You can eat delicious and hearty meals and snacks even if you have high cholesterol levels. The only catch is that you have to be careful when choosing what to eat. Once you make healthy eating a habit, it will become easy for you to maintain your cholesterol levels. Here are some ideas for guilt-free and easily available snacks for high cholesterol:

• Whole-grain cereals that have at least 5 grams of dietary fiber should be chosen. It is also important to remember to avoid the sugary kinds by eating cereals with less than 8 grams of sugar per serving. Have cereal with milk and add in some fruits like strawberries for a guilt-free and hearty snack that also helps manage high cholesterol levels.
• Hummus is a great accompaniment for veggies. You can prepare hummus at home or buy it at a local store. Additionally, having vegetables with hummus will help lower LDL cholesterol levels.
• Popcorn is a great snack option that tastes delicious and is great for managing high cholesterol levels. Popcorn comes under the category of whole-grain foods and has high fiber content, which is very beneficial.
• Another guilt-free snack for high cholesterol is beans. They can be cooked in many ways, and you can also bake them and add a pinch of salt if you wish. Alternatively, you can add them to salads for a healthy low-cholesterol snack.
• You can prepare baked potato chips at home as the ones available in the market contain added preservatives and are bad for your health. Potatoes are great sources of potassium, fiber, and minerals, and you can also use rosemary and olive oil when baking them for added health benefits.
• Choose clementines when they are in season as they are packed with high potassium content and help keep your blood pressure in control. They also have high pectin content, which helps decrease bad cholesterol levels in the body.
• If you have the time, you can try making soup. Add beans and veggies for a protein-, fiber-, and other nutrient-rich snack option. It adds to the taste and is a guilt-free snack for lowering high cholesterol levels.
• No guilt-free snacks for high cholesterol are complete without bread. You can have rye, pumpernickel, or whole-wheat bread with gouda or cheddar cheese when your hunger pangs are getting out of control.
• You can choose from several dairy options when you want to snack healthy. Opt for low-fat or non-fat options of buttermilk, and when it comes to milk, choose skimmed milk.
• When the fruits you love and those that help lower cholesterol levels are about to go out of season, you can simply freeze them for later consumption. For instance, freezing blueberries can enable you to have them with plain yogurt even when they are out of season.