Smart Snacking..Explained!

If you are among those who consume snacks on a regular basis, it is important to consider snacks in your overall nutritional plan. Include those snacks in your daily diet that will provide energy as well as balanced nutrition. Smart snacking deals with making full use of snacks as nutrients, and at the same time avoiding those snacks that can prove harmful in the end. Snacks can be a sandwich, a bowl of healthy vegetable soup, cheese and crackers, yogurt with fruit, a low fat muffin, or the same meal in smaller quantity that you consume on a daily or weekly basis. If you are looking for a salty, crunchy taste, choose between pretzels, bread sticks, low-fat pita crisps, or air-popped popcorn. Combine them with a low-fat yogurt-based dip or a bean dip to up the nutritional ante. Other healthy snacks include a bowl of cereal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit (like strawberries, pineapple), or mini-pizzas made from English muffins or pitas topped with pizza sauce and part-skim mozzarella cheese.

Snacks can provide several of the daily-recommended servings of starchy foods or the 5 or 10 servings of fruits and vegetables. Half a bagel with an apple, or a pita pocket filled with chopped raw vegetables, makes a filling, nutritious snack that can be worked into the day’s meal plan. Other quick, low-fat foods, such as bags of fresh raw vegetables and dips such as hummus or other bean dips, or a mixture of low-fat yogurt or sour cream blended with herbs are good after-school snacks. For a satisfying beverage, make a latte (½ regular or soy milk and ½ decaffeinated coffee) or a smoothie out of yogurt, fruit, and juice). Snacking on healthy foods like vegetables and low-fat dip helps prevent overeating at mealtime. Many experts think that eating five or six meals daily is best for overall health. One strategy is to divide your food evenly over your waking hours, eating something small but nutritious every few hours. Weight management with snacks has been shown to be among the most effective weight loss strategies. Therefore, smart snacking should be included in your snacking routine. This will help you in having a control over your appetite, your weight, and your health.