There have been rumors flying around that snacking is bad for you, but actually, the opposite is true.
Having snacks throughout your day actually prevent you from binge-eating or gobbling up unhealthy foods like chips and chocolate. The reason for this is because when you wait too long in between meals, you get REALLY HUNGRY...and all you want is something to satisfy your hunger NOW.
The first thing you do when you are starving is go for the carb cupboard...maybe grab the closest bag of chips or a chocolate bar.
The key to snacking is knowing the `good`types of snacks to have on hand, so that you can stay healthy while still being satisfied!
By planning ahead, or knowing what to choose when you are at the grocery store, snacks can actually promote good health and help you meet your overall health and nutrition goals.
Snacks are great because enjoying smaller mini-meals throughout the day keeps your blood sugar even and your energy levels high, which means, you'll feel better all day long.
But that's not all!!!
Snacking actually helps your metabolism run more efficiently, so while you may consume slightly more food during your day, you'll also be burning it off at a faster rate.
And again, snacking keeps you satisfied, so you'll never again feel famished and will probably end up consuming fewer calories at the end of the day. Feeling satisfied makes it a lot easier to pass by the junk food snacks you encounter during the day.
So, what is a GOOD snack and what is a BAD snack?
To discover this, let me create a situation for you.
You wake up, look at the clock and realize you overslept.
You run into your kids rooms to wake them up and by the time you have gotten dressed and everyone is ready to head out the door, you have had zero time for breakfast.
After dropping the kids off at school, you walk into the office to find a big plate of donuts and a pot of coffee waiting in the staff room. You inhale two sugary donuts and guzzle a large cup of coffee and then start your day.
At lunch, your meeting runs late, so all you have time for is a quick stop to the vending machine where you eat a bag of cheetos and a grape soda.
Finally, at the end of the day, you are so exhausted you decide you are too tiered to cook, and order a pizza.
Sound familiar?
Well, you are not alone!
This type of eating and snacking is the `bad`kind, and it happens all too often to all of us because of the busy lifestyles and packaged food options we have these days.
Good snacking can be easy too, it just takes a bit of organization and determination, but you can do it!
Rushing out the door in the morning is a common thing for many of us, but breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day as it kick-starts our metabolism, so skipping it just gets us off to a bad start.
Having something as little as a banana, or a granola bar (Kashi is a good brand, make sure not to have the sugary sweet granola bars) is a great choice. Choose what you are going to eat the night before so that you can just grab it and go, and feel good all day.
A great time to have your first snack of the day is in between breakfast and lunch, when you are feeling a bit peckish and are losing the steam from your breakfast meal.
A handful of nuts or some yogurt are tasty treats that you can have, and they are also easy to pack with you. They will help you avoid running off to the vending machine to grab a bag of chips, which are loaded with fat and bad calories.
The next great snack time is in between lunch and dinner, maybe on your commute home or when you are watching your children play their after school sports or music lesson. You could have some precut carrots and hummus, or almond butter and whole wheat crackers.
Some other great snack ideas are:
* Fresh fruit or individually packed containers of cut-up fruit
* Raw vegetables including carrots, peppers, zucchini, cherry or grape tomatoes.
* Fresh, frozen or canned fruit with low fat yogurt or in a smoothie.
* Sweet red, yellow or green peppers and bread sticks with salad dressing or low fat dip.
* Whole wheat tortilla wrap made with salmon or tuna and salad dressing, onions, celery and green peppers.
* English muffin with melted cheese and apple slices.
* Dry mixed cereal and a container of milk.
* Dark green leafy salad with orange sections and almonds.
* Nuts, pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
* Plain popcorn.
* Popsicles made with 100% fruit juice or yogurt.
* Water, milk, fortified soy beverage or 100% fruit juice.
Snacking is a great way to keep yourself from over-eating, or from indulging in the sugary and salty snacks that are always so tempting when you are really hungry.
Just try to plan a head, or know the alternatives (when you are craving something crunchy, grab some veggies not the bag of chips!) and you will feel satisfied and healthy at the end of your day!
Go grab yourself a GOOD snack,
The Author have been writing articles for years. Not only does he specialize in Credit and Debt, you can also check out his latest website on Quick Weight Loss Programs. which contains the Strip That Fat Review
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