Smart Snacking

Snacking is often seen as a bad thing, but it really isn't when you choose the right foods to munch on.  Snacks are needed if our meals are lacking in calories, if our stomachs are growling between meals, or if our bodies need energy to make it through our day. 

Generally, I try to stick to 2 rules when I choose a snack.  1. Eat a high fiber food. 2. Eat a high protein food.  Both fiber and protein are important in helping us feel full.  By choosing a snack with fiber or protein, you will be less likely to continue to snack on other foods and take in excess calories.  Chips and cookies usually have neither fiber nor protein so you can take in more calories than you intended, and they will leave you wanting more. 

Snack Fiber Foods:

• piece of fruit, with peel or seeds, such as apples, apricots, pear, raspberries, strawberries
• vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, carrots
• whole grain products, such as cereals, breads

Snack Protein Foods:

• yogurt, light or fat-free
• milk, skim or 1%
• peanut or almond butter on whole wheat crackers or bread (has fiber too!)
• nuts, such as pistachios, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts (fiber here too!)