When is snacking a good thing?
Sometimes the hardest part about making healthy eating choices is resisting snacking. But when is snacking a good thing?
GOOD NEWS–we don’t need to resist snacking!
What? How can that be?
In fact, many nutrition experts advocate eating numerous small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day to help prevent us from over-eating or making poor food choices.
So…today, let’s talk snacks–the fact that snacks are good for us.
But…you guessed it…there is a catch…
We need to select healthy snacks.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables–it’s a good plan to keep a supply of prepared fresh fruits and veggies in your refrigerator–ALWAYS READY–for those times when you’ve “got to have a snack!” Those are the times we typically reach for the quick, but unhealthy snack foods.
- Low fat and low sugar yogurt–garnish this healthy snack with fresh fruit and granola (in small amounts) for a healthy snack.
- Nuts (in moderate amounts) are good for us! Walnuts and almonds are excellent choices. Be careful of portions–we should limit ourselves to one-fourth cup or less per day of nuts.
- A few whole wheat crackers with peanut butter are a healthy snack (but remember moderation–peanut butter is good for us in small amounts). Sprinkle a few raisins on top for an added treat.
- Keep healthy snacks in the car to resist the urge to stop at a drive through fast food restaurant. Take healthy snacks to work to avoid vending machines.
- There are a few prepared snacks which aren’t bad choices, but please read the labels! Keep the snack below 100 calories whenever possible. Keep fat and sugar grams low. Watch out for sodium!
So, what not to eat? Try to reduce those snacks that are loaded with the three culprits (fat, sugar, and sodium):
- Fat–Cake, ice cream, chips, fried foods are loaded with calories from fat.
- Sugar–limit sweetened beverages (sodas, sweet tea, juices); reduce intake of candy, pies, cookies and other sugar loaded snacks.
- Sodium–Check labels and try to select snacks that are low in sodium (like veggies and fruit).
Healthy eating can bring joy! It doesn’t have to be a feeling of deprivation. Your body will thank you for making healthy choices.
If you’d like to share some healthy snack ideas, please leave a comment. We appreciate your ideas.
Your post has made me hungry for a healthy snack. Love the suggestions.
Snacking is my downfall at times. But I love fruit and that helps me stay away from the chocolate (well, to eat less of it!) Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Diana.
I’ve been working harder to make sure what I eat isn’t inflammatory. That means when I fall off the wagon, I don’t feel good at all. Thanks for all the great tips, Katherine. Very helpful. God bless!
Good for you, Nancy! I enjoy sugar too much so I’m trying to be more careful in that area because sugar is VERY inflammatory. Like you, my body tells me when I’ve eaten too much sugar or fat. I just need to be better at heeding the signals. Thanks for your encouragement and I’m praying for you. Blessings!
I am not a snacker, but living in Italy I picked up their habit of a lovely bowl of fruit always ready, and it looks so decorative as well. However, I will admit I can be tempted by the Fat, Sugar, Sodium list. Some of those sounded like long lost friends.
It’s such a good habit to have that bowl of fruit right there to remind us to make that healthy choice. Thank you for sharing that wisdom. Wishing you peace and blessings (and safe travels, too).
I’m a sucker for a Klondike Bar and diet A&W Root Beer in the evening, but during the day when I’m working around the farm, I try and keep those “good snack” options available to me. Great ideas and suggestions Ms. Katherine. Thank you ma’am.
Klondike Bars are great–the Root Beer, not so much. I never enjoyed root beer (didn’t like the taste), although Farmer Bob would join you in both those snacks. Glad you keep the good snack options available during the day. Thank you for your encouragement, kind sir.
Thanks for the encouragement to eat healthy snacks and some suggestions for those. It’s something I have to keep working on.
I have to keep working on making healthy food choices, too, Kathy. It takes continuous effort and commitment. Wishing you joy and sunshine in this upcoming week.