How to Snack Healthy
Posted on February 24th, 2009 by Elaine
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In between the main meals of a day, people have snacks to keep their tummies satisfied, but the problem is snacking can be bad, especially if it leads to unhealthy eating and obesity. To solve this, you must know how to snack healthy so you won’t ruin your health and appetite. Here are a few tips.
Practice Smart Shopping
Going to the grocery unarmed is not a practice of a smart and healthy individual. You have to think about what food items you’re buying, even before you hit the supermarket. Make sure you prepare a shopping list when you go to the grocery. Add in healthy food ideas, including green veggies, fruits, lean meat, whole grain foods, and unsalted nuts. Another reminder: Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You’ll be more prone to putting junk food and other unnecessary items in your cart.
Read Labels
Even the food you think are “healthy” can be misleading. Every time you buy snack items, check the label and the serving and health information on the back of the package first.
Prepare Healthy Snacks In Advance
People who don’t prepare healthy treats in advance are more prone to impulse-buying junk food and other unhealthy snacks. To avoid doing this, prepare your healthy snacks in advance. If you make it yourself, you’ll be able to control what ingredients are included and make sure no fatty, cholesterol-filled and calorie-filled stuff are mixed. Cut up fresh fruits in advance and put them in the fridge to keep them crispy. Mix dried berries, oats and nuts for a healthy trail mix. You can even make your own granola bar. The snacks you prepare must be in balance with your meals.
Raid Your Fridge
Not just your fridge, but also your cupboard, pantry and your snack container at the office. Raid all the unwanted junk food and get rid of them. You can give them away to other people. If there are no temptations around you, you’ll become more used to snacking healthy. Also, keep the healthy snacks you packed near you all the time, so whenever you feel the urge to get some junk food, you can reach for them instead.
Opt For Healthier Approaches
No matter how controlled you are, you’ll still get cravings every now and then. Most of the time, you have to avoid them, but you can indulge every now and then. For example, if you want to eat chocolate, have a mug of hot choco instead. It’s got less calories and fat. If you want ice cream, settle for healthy yogurt or sorbet. Munchies such as potato chips can be substituted with corn chips or pretzels.
Develop Self-Control
Even if you’ve got all the healthy food items, they’ll be meaningless if you don’t have any control over your eating habits. Try to develop a sense of self control over your snacking habits. Remember you won’t always be in controlled situations. Try to focus less on food. The more you think of food, the more you’ll be tempted to eat.
A Few More Tips
- Keep your snacks to at least twice a day.
- Experiment with healthy and interesting recipes.
- Chew on some gum or drink tea when you get cravings.
Snacking is all right, as long as it’s done in moderation, and with healthy food choices. Remember these tips and you can enjoy snack times, without any guilt or weight gain.
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