To Snack or Not to Snack?
There are so many mixed reviews out there on why you should or should not snack during the day. Making something easy or accessible is how you change your snacking habits. We snack more and we snack more often, because it’s easy and it’s convenient. Have you found yourself snacking before a meal, afterwards and sometimes instead. Or are you snacking all day and very soon it becomes a habit to snack all day long. With a few smart modifications we can change that.
Eat protein rich snacks.
Quick snacks with lots of sugar will give you an instant energy boost but it won’t last. You’ll be coming down from the sugar high within an hour feeling worse and being hungry again. High protein snacks (protein bars, nuts and yogurts) satisfy your hunger longer and will not raise your blood sugar levels. They will keep you feeling full longer and keep you in a better mood all day long.
Never keep any commercial snacks in the house.
If you want a bag of chips you will have to go out and buy some. By making it inconvenient you are likely to forget about it and either snack on something healthy or not snack at all. But if you do hit the store… walk there at the very least you will get a workout.
Never buy value packs when it comes to ready snacks.
If you want a chocolate, buy only one not 10 for $10. Can someone tell me why supermarkets do that….. What do I need with ten bags or boxes of something? I mean unless you are having a party and be sure to give all the extras to your guest to take home.
Make your own.
If you are used to having snacks throughout the day and need to have something you can grab on the go, set-up a healthy snack bowl on the table or counter. You can also dedicate some space in the fridge to healthy snacks. Fill your snack bowl with ready to eat washed fruit and raw nuts. How about having small containers with homemade protein bars in the fridge and 8oz plain Greek yogurts stocked at all times. You can spice up your yogurts with fruit, granola and cinnamon which is also good for your body.
Control the quantity as well as the quality.
Snacking isn’t wrong, it is only wrong when it’s overdone, abused and when it’s done non-stop. We comfort eat to feel better but we only feel better while we eat. What you don’t want is snacking to lead you to chewing on something every waking hour. It helps if you set a number or the quantity of snacks you can reasonably allow yourself to have as well.
Snack mindfully.
Most of us snack mindlessly, without paying attention that is. We snack while we work, during a movie or a game. This makes it very easy to eat too much and miss the “full” signals simply because our mind is elsewhere. When we sit down and have a meal, with cutlery, we eat what’s on the plate, we know how much we eat. With snacks, though, we can go through whole bags without even realizing it.
Even the healthiest of snacks like one of my favorites, popcorn can be too much when you eat more than a snack size serving. i.e. the entire bag. Whatever your desire is to snack or not to snack, make smart choices to support your goals and satisfy your tastebuds.
