Enjoying a healthy snack at least twice a day can help stabilize your blood sugar, curb hunger and fight cravings for unhealthy food. To avoid getting so famished that you’ll be tempted to overeat at mealtime, plan to have a snack in the mid-morning and again in the mid-afternoon.
Make your snacks count by following these tips:
Choose a protein- and fiber-rich snack.
Pairing vegetables or whole grains with lean protein can keep cravings at bay. Try a snack roll-up made with all-natural, lower-sodium turkey or ham slices, Dijon mustard, and a slice of reduced-fat Swiss cheese. Or enjoy hummus with celery sticks, bell pepper slices, or broccoli or cauliflower florets. Nonfat plain yogurt with fresh berries and nuts or whole grain crackers with almond butter are other healthy choices.
Read packaged snacks labels carefully.
If you’re on the go and don’t have time to prepare a healthy snack, protein bars, string cheese, snack size non-fat yogurt, tuna and whole wheat cracker snack, and portion controlled nut packs can be a good option, but be sure to check the ingredients list to make sure they don’t contain excess sugar, fat and sodium. Keep your snack at about 100 to 200 calories and look for a high fiber and protein option. Snacks high in carbohydrates will not curb your appetite for long and only leave you wanting more
Use Strategic Snacking
Plan your snacks in advance. Invest in a lightweight, reusable lunch bag, and stock it with small zip-seal bags and small plastic containers with lids, filled with healthy snacks such as part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks, cut-up veggies, almonds or walnuts, or hard-boiled eggs. If you plan ahead you can control the portions. Remember even a “healthy snack” can derail your weight loss efforts if you eat too much or snack too often. Plan for the time(s) during the day when you know you get a little hungry and are most likely to grab whatever is available. this will help you to resist the urge to hit the vending machine.
Sticking to a healthy snacking routine will help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals,
