Take a smart approach to snacking. Eating a snack or two between meals can curb hunger so that you don’t inhale the dining room table when you finally sit down to supper. Snacking can also help you get in all the nutrients you need. On the flipside, grazing all day—particularly on foods of little nutritional value—may result in eating too much and packing on extra pounds. The key is taking a smart approach to snacking. Here are ten simple strategies to get you started.
1. Chew on this One study found that people who chewed almonds for up to 40 chews felt satisfied longer than those who chewed the same amount of nuts fewer times.
2. Citrus Snacks Turns out grapefruits can help! One study found that those people who ate grapefruit with each meal lost up to 3 1/2 pounds over three months. How? The connection lies in grapefruit's ability to help manage appetite by lowering insulin levels, say researchers.
3. Combine Carbohydrates and Proteins Try pairing protein-rich foods with a carbohydrate (think some almonds with an apple) or snacking on roasted chickpeas, which are a good natural mix of carbohydrate & protein. They’re also high in fiber, which research suggests may help prevent weight gain and even may help you lose weight. Carbohydrates provide both your body and brain with energy, plus protein-rich foods help fill you up because they break down more slowly in the body.
4. Grapes in a Snack Sized Baggy Placed in the Freezer for a Quick & Easy Snack They're like mini popsicle morsels and kids love them! Because they’re cold, it takes a little longer to chew, unless you want brain freeze (no thanks!). Research shows that eating slowly helps you cut down on how much you eat because you can allow yourself time to feel full. You’ll get a lot of sweet satisfaction for just a handful of calories.
5. It's Okay to Have a Small Treat In fact, giving yourself treats may be the secret to losing weight—for good. If you like a glass of wine with dinner, make room for it. Prefer dessert? Skip the drink and go for a low-calorie chocolate treat instead. Savoring a small treat each day won’t sabotage your weight-loss efforts.
6. Snack (and Multitask) Mindfully Munching mindlessly in front of the TV is a surefire way to gain unnecessary pounds. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who ate a meal without distractions felt more satisfied and ate less later in the day. But that doesn’t mean you can never enjoy your favorite program with a snack. Make sure the snack is a healthy choice, like air-popped popcorn, and sit down with just an individual serving size to prevent overeating.
7. Use Snacks to Fill Nutritional Gaps Make your snacks count. Since most people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, consider snacking on celery with a little peanut butter or yogurt with fruit as an easy way to get more produce in your diet. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, are low in calories and high in fiber. They’re a tasty triple-threat snack.
8. Brown-Bag Your Snack Skip the vending machine and satisfy the afternoon “munchies” with a healthy snack you packed at home. You’ll save money and most likely a bigger bang for your nutritional buck. In fact, buying snacks on-the-go can be twice as expensive as bringing them from home. “Homemade” baby carrots and hummus costs $1, but pre-packed will run you $2. Plan ahead to get snacks that do good for your wallet and your waistline.
9. Choose Your “Midnight” Snack Wisely If dinner was on the light side and you need a little pre-slumber snack, there may be a food combination that promotes zzzs. Specialists recommend a snack that’s rich in complex carbohydrates and contains a bit of protein (remember Tip #3?); this combination is said to increase the tryptophan levels in the brain, causing you to sleep more soundly. Try low-fat yogurt with a sprinkle of granola, a small bowl (1/2c) of oatmeal or a sliced apple with a bit of peanut butter.
10. Don’t Get Tripped Up By Travel However often you fly, prepare in advance so you’ll have healthy snacks to eat en route. For shorter flights, pack a quarter-cup of dried fruit, such as apricots, a handful of almonds and a few whole-wheat crackers as healthier alternatives to the salty snacks served in-flight. Sip plenty of water; low humidity and recirculating cabin air can be dehydrating.
Partial Content from EatingWell.com
1. Chew on this One study found that people who chewed almonds for up to 40 chews felt satisfied longer than those who chewed the same amount of nuts fewer times.
2. Citrus Snacks Turns out grapefruits can help! One study found that those people who ate grapefruit with each meal lost up to 3 1/2 pounds over three months. How? The connection lies in grapefruit's ability to help manage appetite by lowering insulin levels, say researchers.
3. Combine Carbohydrates and Proteins Try pairing protein-rich foods with a carbohydrate (think some almonds with an apple) or snacking on roasted chickpeas, which are a good natural mix of carbohydrate & protein. They’re also high in fiber, which research suggests may help prevent weight gain and even may help you lose weight. Carbohydrates provide both your body and brain with energy, plus protein-rich foods help fill you up because they break down more slowly in the body.
4. Grapes in a Snack Sized Baggy Placed in the Freezer for a Quick & Easy Snack They're like mini popsicle morsels and kids love them! Because they’re cold, it takes a little longer to chew, unless you want brain freeze (no thanks!). Research shows that eating slowly helps you cut down on how much you eat because you can allow yourself time to feel full. You’ll get a lot of sweet satisfaction for just a handful of calories.
5. It's Okay to Have a Small Treat In fact, giving yourself treats may be the secret to losing weight—for good. If you like a glass of wine with dinner, make room for it. Prefer dessert? Skip the drink and go for a low-calorie chocolate treat instead. Savoring a small treat each day won’t sabotage your weight-loss efforts.
6. Snack (and Multitask) Mindfully Munching mindlessly in front of the TV is a surefire way to gain unnecessary pounds. In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who ate a meal without distractions felt more satisfied and ate less later in the day. But that doesn’t mean you can never enjoy your favorite program with a snack. Make sure the snack is a healthy choice, like air-popped popcorn, and sit down with just an individual serving size to prevent overeating.
7. Use Snacks to Fill Nutritional Gaps Make your snacks count. Since most people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, consider snacking on celery with a little peanut butter or yogurt with fruit as an easy way to get more produce in your diet. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, are low in calories and high in fiber. They’re a tasty triple-threat snack.
8. Brown-Bag Your Snack Skip the vending machine and satisfy the afternoon “munchies” with a healthy snack you packed at home. You’ll save money and most likely a bigger bang for your nutritional buck. In fact, buying snacks on-the-go can be twice as expensive as bringing them from home. “Homemade” baby carrots and hummus costs $1, but pre-packed will run you $2. Plan ahead to get snacks that do good for your wallet and your waistline.
9. Choose Your “Midnight” Snack Wisely If dinner was on the light side and you need a little pre-slumber snack, there may be a food combination that promotes zzzs. Specialists recommend a snack that’s rich in complex carbohydrates and contains a bit of protein (remember Tip #3?); this combination is said to increase the tryptophan levels in the brain, causing you to sleep more soundly. Try low-fat yogurt with a sprinkle of granola, a small bowl (1/2c) of oatmeal or a sliced apple with a bit of peanut butter.
10. Don’t Get Tripped Up By Travel However often you fly, prepare in advance so you’ll have healthy snacks to eat en route. For shorter flights, pack a quarter-cup of dried fruit, such as apricots, a handful of almonds and a few whole-wheat crackers as healthier alternatives to the salty snacks served in-flight. Sip plenty of water; low humidity and recirculating cabin air can be dehydrating.
Partial Content from EatingWell.com
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