Why Snacking Is Good For You

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Snacking…Its Not All That Bad

We often hear the phrase “cut out the snacks” when discussing a healthy diet and what it constitutes; but the jury is out on snacking and the good news is that it’s not all bad!

Of course we all have those days when a snack is unavoidable; perhaps you’ve been working late, haven’t had time to eat a proper meal, maybe you want to go to the gym or out for a drink with friends? In these instances we all fall prey to snacking…but is it all bad? Are there times when is a snack actually good for you?

The short answer to this is of course!

The choices we make when having a snack are vital; it’s all too easy to choose an extra-large bar of chocolate and a packet of fat-laden crisps…they’re tasty and fill a gap right? But the problems begin with this type of snack and when it becomes more than a habit but an addition.

Choosing The Right Snacks

Choosing the right snacks is what makes snacking ok…that and the fact that allowing your blood sugars to drop dangerously low can affect your metabolism in a bad way. If you’re hungry then you should listen to your body and eat! Allowing yourself to go hungry can trick your body into thinking it’s in a famine situation and that makes it store up fat and calories.

The best things to go for are low fat, whole-foods such as :

• unsalted peanuts
• raw carrots
• baby tomatoes
• blueberries
• natural yogurt
• air popped popcorn

All of these snacks are not only tasty but also very healthy…they’re not laden with much apart from vitamins and minerals…and a sprinkling of antioxidants!

If you want something a little more filling then try a small block of cheese with some lettuce or apple, a slice of ham with a handful of grapes or a banana which is a really fantastic, high energy and portable snack.

Stave off the hunger pangs when you feel them and if you don’t feel quite so hungry when meal time finally rolls around then eat less! Don’t fill up on more food that isn’t needed. Always eat until you’re full and no more…the “clearing your plate” brigade have it wrong! This is especially important if you are eating a number of snacks during your day as overeating in any sense is never a good thing.

Consistency Is Important

Regular mealtimes are important for the body to function well; a body which knows when it’s going to be fed is a happy body. Although this is not easy for everyone to manage it is very important that you try to keep to regular mealtimes even if you do work long, changeable hours….and this is why snacks are so good.

If you’re at work and can’t stop for a meal, make sure that you have access to some of the healthy snacks mentioned above and your body will thank you for it. Combined with plenty of exercise and lots of water, you will find that this type of diet is a very good one and you won’t put on extra weight.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]