I love to snack. Ok, there I said it. I love to snack! I don’t indulge in a lot of fatty foods anymore but if I do, I do it in moderation. I still haven’t had any chocolate (or beer) yet. I’m planning to have some at the end of the week….I promise to have only one chocolate bar and two beers (fingers crossed)!
Seriously though, I have to snack sometimes. It’s quite a filler in between meals. I do try to be good and snack healthy but what do you do when you can’t? The thing is if you let yourself stay hungry for too long then you tend to eat what’s not good for you when you finally do eat. I find that eating on a regular basis, and lord knows, I do try to do so but things come up sometimes, will give you a steady routine. Your body will get used to it and it will be better for you in the long run. One of the good things will be your body won’t store food as fat as often.
I have read that you can work healthy snacks into your meal plan even if you are on a low-fat diet. You can eat snacks that will make you feel full, thus getting rid of those cravings and that feeling of hunger that sometimes creep up on you, and if you’re getting these too often (hunger pangs) that means you’re not eating enough.
I got a list of food that is good to snack on from an article I read written by Jennifer R. Scott, on About.com in her “Your Guide to Weight Loss” series that she writes on that website. Here’s that list which has been very helpful to me:
• “Some fiber-friendly choices:
o Bran muffins
o Oatmeal
o Many breakfast cereals (check the label to be sure your favorite is fiber-rich)
o Whole wheat toast
o Most fruits (But be sure to eat the skin of your apple, where the most fiber is!)
o Dried fruits aren't the best choice for satiety -- the more water a fruit has in it, the fuller you will feel after eating it
o Mixed raw veggies
o Sourdough pretzels
Sometimes it may seem like your energy is sapped when you're on a low-fat diet. Give your snacks the power of protein:
• Eat for energy by snacking the right way!
o Nuts like almonds are high protein and will give you an energy burst. Don't be afraid to eat them just because they are higher in fat and calories. The benefits are there, and, as we've mentioned before, any food is diet-friendly as long as you watch your portion size.
o Go for a "two-fer" by combining two snacks into one. Putting peanut butter on your apple will give you a power surge. Eating graham crackers and yogurt together have more "staying-power" than either snack alone. Eat some reduced fat cubes of cheese with your fruit.
o Yogurt is a great way to sneak dairy into your diet if you don't like drinking milk. Dairy products contain calcium, and recent research has shown that calcium may actually help us lose weight. There are regular and reduced- and non-fat varieties and many brands of yogurt. If you don't like it at first, keep taste testing until you find one you love. Yogurt packs a protein punch that will help you feel energized and satiated. Check the label for L. acidophilus (live active yogurt cultures) and you'll be doing your tummy a favor. L. acidophilus benefits digestive health.”
When you do get yourself to eat on a regular basis, i.e., four to six times a day, your body will definitely feel and show the difference. It’s also good to make sure that you eat smaller portions if you are going to eat often.