Canadians love to snack. Dieticians of Canada recommend that you snack no more than three times a day, but they say that snacking can be beneficial to get all the nutrients you need. That is, if you are snacking smartly. One only has to wander down the snack food aisles at the grocery store to find a plethora of high fat, sugar, and food coloring laden treats posing as snacks. What can you do to snack smartly?
First of all, skip that dreaded aisle of treats. There are many packaged foods that pose as smart snacks, but when you look closer at the labels they contain a great deal of sugar and other additives. I also find that if I don’t buy the treats that I’ll be tempted to toss in a bag when I’m rushed or stressed, then I don’t have to worry about eating them.
Self-restraint is easier when there is no junk food in the house!
Try to stick to more natural foods. When I began a job where I was much more physically active, I had to pack some snacks because by 2 pm I was so hungry my stomach would literally hurt. To combat my urge to hit a vending machine, I began packing more fruit and vegetables, or something with more protein to get me through the afternoon. Coupled with a big glass of water, it takes care of any junk food craving. Sure, the sugar and salt-laden snacks are more fun but if you start by trading one treat for something healthier, you’ll notice that eventually your craving for the junky snacks will dissipate.
Portion out your snacks to avoid overeating. Never, ever, sit down with a whole box of crackers, tub of hummus, or bag of almonds. It’s far too easy to sit and mindlessly keep popping food into your mouth without thinking! Measure out a portion into a container, put the bag away, and then enjoy your snack.
Make your snacks accessible. Nobody wants to have to do a lot of prep, and usually we’re very busy and need something to throw into a bag. I like portioning out veggies such as sugar snap peas and slices of sweet pepper into containers, as well as almonds or slices of fruit for my lunches during the week. My mornings are far smoother when I know that I have things ready to just grab and throw into my bag in the morning.
Lastly, change it up! Don’t let your snacks be boring. Below are some of my favorites, along with some suggestions sourced from Twitter.
Hummus with crackers, raw veggies, or bits of pita
1/4 cup of natural almonds or other nuts
Veggies that are easy to handle: cherry tomatoes, sugar snap peas, slices of sweet peppers, celery, and mini carrots
Low-fat cheese and slices of apple, some grapes, pretzels or crackers
Dry cereal, especially if you have a bit of a sweet craving. Mulitgrain Cheerios is a good one.
If you have a little extra time, a smoothie can be a great snack. Throw in a handful of rolled oats and nuts to make it more filling and a mini-meal.
Fresh fruit: I especially love mango, peeled and sliced kiwi, apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, and berries
@lamacki88 roasted kale chips!
@erinehm Apple wedges with 1 tbsp of peanut butter or a few sesame flavor rice crackers and a Babybel
@mydirt homemade organic nut free trail mix. Seeds. Raisins. Choc chips. Cheerios. Bag in 1/2 cup portions. Grab and go.
@tjrossignol vanilla yogurt with granola, coconut and slivered almonds thrown in.
@iriscielo raisin/nuts oatmeal cookie
What are your favorite snacks?
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