Making Healthy Snacking Choices

Snacking can be the downfall of many otherwise healthy diets, but the good news is that you can learn to control this rather easily. Even if you still want to snack during the day, there are ways in which you can do so without killing your healthy diet. Staying on track with your diet when you like to snack might be hard, but it is worth that extra effort because it keeps your body healthy.

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One way to prevent snacking is to simply eat more meals. Instead of eating three large meals every day, try eating smaller meals every few hours. If you are snacking because you are hungry, chances are that you are using more energy than you are ingesting and you need the extra fuel. By eating 6 smaller but healthy meals every day, you will not be tempted to snack very often, but will keep your high energy levels.

You can also help to stop your snacking simply by removing temptation. Before you reach for a snack, ask yourself if you are honestly hungry or if you are just eating because you are bored, because the food tastes good, or because you feel compelled to eat when doing a certain activity (like watching a movie). If you are snacking because you are really hungry, than it is probably fine to have something to eat, but if you are snacking for another reason, you should try to remove the temptation. Simply rid your house of junk foods and do not buy these items again when you go to the grocery store.

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Instead, purchase healthy snacks. Think about the snacks you are eating. Would they fit easily into a food group as fruit, vegetable, grain, dairy, or protein? If the answer is no, then the snack is probably not good for you. For example, carrot sticks (vegetables), yogurt (dairy), or popcorn (grains) work well as snacks, while candy, potato chips, and processed foods do not. Keep some veggies like carrots and celery sticks on hand, so that when you do get hungry or are craving a snack, they will be easy to grab.

When you snack, remember to consider your beverages as well. Drinks like soda, fruit punch, iced tea, lemonade, "diet" drinks, and juice boxes can contain unnatural ingredients and/or lots of sugar. In short, they are high in calories but low in nutrients (and who needs that?). Instead, opt for drinks that supplement your healthy diet. Choose water most of the time, or 100% juice. If you are not used to drinking water, and have trouble with this, add just a splash of natural juice. This can add a bit of flavor without too much sweetness. Try to stay away from most kinds of alcohol. However, if you must have a glass of wine or a small drink after a long hard day, go for it - just don't feel guilty about it later, as that causes stress! Much evidence now suggests that a small amount of alcohol can be beneficial to your health in several ways. Just go easy - moderation is key!

 

Related Articles on Healthy Snacking:

• Healthy Midnight Snacks (everydayhealth.com)
• Healthy After-School Snacks (everydayhealth.com)
• Smarter Snacks Keep Off the Weight (everydayhealth.com)
• Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes, School Snacks, and More (webmd.com)
• How To Kill Your Addictions to Junk Food and Soda Pop (dumblittleman.com)