Snack Attack! – What’s Your Go-To?
On some days, your big meals seem to keep you just perfectly full. On others, you just HAVE to reach for something small in between to quiet those stomach rumbles until the next mealtime. And on those days, you know, the ones where it just seems like you be satisfied no matter how much you eat, you’ll grab anything and everything to satiate it.
Can you relate? I definitely can. Those harmless snacks, though, can absolutely ADD UP. Here’s a reminder that no matter what kind of day you’re having, keeping snack time healthy is possible!
How to Snack Smart
Although “snacking” sometimes gets a bad rap, eating a couple of nutritious snacks throughout the day can be beneficial for your health. Snacks are a great way to provide our bodies with enough nourishment
between meals to keep from getting to the “starved” point by lunch or dinner, which can cause us to overeat. Snacks are also great to keep around for pre- or post-workout fuel, especially if the workout doesn’t fall near mealtime.
Some important things to remember when you’re grabbing a snack:
- Don’t snack mindlessly. This can lead to the consumption of way too many calories, lack of hunger at mealtime, and feelings of lethargy and drowsiness for the rest of the day. Another thing to consider is how many food groups are included in a snack.
- Aim to avoid added sugars or extra salty snacks as much as possible, as they don’t give you much bang for your buck.
- Snacks high in fiber are a great choice because they will be extra filling. When purchasing pre-packaged snacks, be mindful of serving size.
A well-rounded snack includes two or more food groups, ideally protein or fat paired with carbs or veggies.
Some examples of high-quality healthy snacks are:
- An apple and peanut or other nut-butter
- Carrots and celery with hummus
- Greek yogurt and berries
- Veggies and guacamole
- Celery, peanut butter, & raisin boats
- Low-fat string cheese and whole wheat crackers or pretzels
- Nuts and seeds (without added salt)
The most important thing to remember when snacking is to listen to your body; determine how much you need to eat to feel satiated and only eat that much!
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