It’s not surprising that a lot of people have too many concerns when it comes to the topic on snacking. Snacking is throughout the day right? Does it make us gain weight? What are the best snacks to eat?
I am are here to let you know that snacking is a healthy practice that leads to a better lifestyle. However, not all snacking habits are created equal. Take, for example, snacking on sugary foods put you at risk for disease.
To reap the full benefits of this important activity for your mind and body, here are some of the best snacking rules you need to live by.
- Do not multi-task when you eat.
The rule of mindful eating must not only apply during regular meals but also during snack time. Having a hectic schedule at work isn’t a valid reason to munch on something while you’re staring at the computer. Doing two different things at the same time defeats the purpose of each activity.
Here’s what will happen when you’re immersed in something else while you snack: You’ll tend to consume more calories than you need. By being mindful of what you put in your mouth, chances are you’ll be able to consume healthier snacks as well.
- Snack when you’re tired and hungry.
Never ignore your what your body tells you. If you’ve skipped breakfast because you were in a hurry or felt drained after a workout, eat a snack. People who are looking to lose weight sometimes think that snacking can harm their waistline. This is rarely the case.
Snacking when you’re tired and hungry gives you additional nutrients to push through your day. Even an apple, a hard-boiled egg or another natural snack food can stabilize your blood sugar levels enough to give you fuel. Doing this will also prevent you from overeating during meal time.
- Diversify your food choices.
Diversifying your snacks allows you to consume nutrients that are absent in one type of food. Truth be told, there’s no one-size-fits-all snack. If you want to take your health to the next level, it’s important to explore several healthy options that help meet your performance and fitness goals.
For example, if you aim to improve your digestive health, you can alternate among fruits and vegetables that each provides its own unique set of additional benefits. Both celery and raspberries help with your digestion. But if you want something with a higher concentration of vitamin C, you’ll want to pick raspberries.
- Prepare your snacks in advance.
A helpful practice to ensure that you eat healthy snacks is to prepare them ahead of time. This is especially important in situations where you need to travel for hours or a healthy canteen menu isn’t available in your office building.
You don’t need to stress yourself with hard-to-prepare snacks. We recommend that you make a list of convenient but nutritious snack foods. Whether they’re fresh or pre-packaged, they should be low in saturated fat, rich in vitamins, and high in fiber. Simple choices to help you get started include a vegetable salad and Greek yogurt topped with blueberries.
- Avoid snacking based on your emotions.
It’s important to recognize emotional stress when they happen. This is where most people make unhealthy choices. Diets fail because people eat not only to solve their hunger but also to conceal unpleasant emotions. Emotional eating often leads to poor snack choices and overeating.
Remember that food isn’t the answer to emotional hunger but well-thought out solutions. Snack when you’re hungry and not when you’re full but mad, depressed, or bored. You should be able to identify emotional triggers. Even happy feelings can call for an unhealthy food celebration.
Over to You
Use snacking to your advantage by making the right decisions. From being more careful with your choice of foods to adopting better eating habits, the right snacking rules will help you live healthier and happier. Are you adopting these snacking practices? You better get started today.
5 Responses
Very helpful tips. I always snack while at work. It makes myself awake and my brain running at night.
i think it’s good to prepare snack in advance as this can allow you to properly plan the calories as well as the timing of each snack.
If it’s almost bedtime and you feel hungry, it might actually be time for bed. My husband and I started “calling it a night” when the late night munchies called. We lost a few pounds with one simple change, and we’re not so tired! Learning your body’s signals — as you suggest — is so important.
I am guilty with the last one.. i really tend to overeat whenever I am depressed or too much stress.. “stress-eating” as what they usually call it… i wonder how can someone prevent it.. maybe I should try to focus on something else and keep myself busy to prevent that unhealthy habit of mine
thanks for these tips
All great advice!! I need to start making snacks in advance. That’s a good one!