What you eat as a snack and when you eat it, plays an important role in your diet and health. But with a huge variety of snacks available these days, healthy snacking has become almost impossible. It’s certainly something that needs attention, especially for those who are watching their weight. As compiled from US News & World Report, here are five tips you can use to ensure your snacks are healthy.
Have a snack only when you’re hungry
We often turn to snacking not because we’re hungry but because we’re bored or stressed. So, before gorging on something, ask yourself if it’s really hunger that’s pulling you towards that snack. Another important thing to keep in mind is the timing of your snack. Try not to snack close to meal times, such as right after breakfast or before dinner.
What you can do instead is plan your snack times according to your needs and when you’re actually hungry. Active people need more snacks as compared to inactive people because their bodies burn more calories. The best time to snack is when you have a gap of five hours or more between meals.
Have snacks, not treats
Snacks are supposed to provide nutrients, such as calcium and protein, to your body between meals and keep you healthy, whereas a treat provides little to no nutrition. Most junk foods are treats and not snack so try to avoid them as they’re just empty calories for your body. Choose healthy foods, such as yogurt, fruits and nuts for snacking.
Go easy on carbs
Just eating foods rich in carbs will make you feel hungry again soon, so couple them with protein or healthy fat for a more satiating snack that keeps you full till the next meal. Protein and healthy fats tend to slow down the rate of sugar absorption from carbs, which contributes to this feeling. Try to combine different types of food to avoid overeating, such as fruits with some non-fat yogurt.
Keep a watch on your portions
Even healthy snacks can contribute to weight gain if not eaten in the right amount. An ideal snack should contain around 125 to 250 calories, so be watchful of the portions you consume. It’s easy to munch on too many fruits or nuts – almonds, for example, are an excellent snack when taken in moderation, but too many of them will build up calorie-intake (three handfuls contain around 500 calories and 42 grams of fat). Make a habit of measuring your snacks and making note of the calories you consume.
Don’t snack mindlessly
Snacking in front of the TV or laptop, leads to overconsumption of food as you are unaware of how much you are eating or even of the flavour of your food. Don’t sit with a bag of chips in front of the TV. Instead, take the exact amount of food you need in a container and enjoy it in a calm environment, away from electronic devices so you can savour every bite.
