There’s no denying that everyone, at one time or another, has had a snack attack. Views on snacking differ. Some of us feel that snacking is bad and that eating between meals leads to weight gain. Others believe that eating many small meals and snacks throughout the day is healthy for maintaining energy levels and optimal weight. If there were one way of snacking that was right for everyone, we would all be doing it!
To alleviate snack attack guilt, try to understand why you are snacking and what snacks work best for your body. Perhaps you snack because your daily diet is missing nutrition, or because you are eating too little at meals. You might be snacking to soothe jangled nerves when you are emotional, or to entertain yourself when you are bored. Whatever your reason, acknowledge it and start thinking about how to create a life that is nourishing and truly satisfying. For example, my husband figured out that when he stopped drinking caffeine, his need for morning and afternoon snacks disappeared! While some people do better on regular meals, others improve their health by eating larger meals for breakfast and lunch which removes the desire to snack.
Although snacks are no substitute for loving your life, they can be great energy boosters. Many convenient snack foods are highly processed and full of chemicals, additives, damaging trans-fats or rancid oils, and refined sugars. When a snack attack hits you, try foods that are filling and satisfying, but also nutritious. Snack on things that don’t come in a plastic wrapper or a box, like fresh fruit, leftover vegetables or cheese and crackers. Make your own signature trail mix, avocado chocolate mousse, or blue corn chips with hummus.
You can also try “upgrading”. If you are craving something crunchy, upgrade from potato chips to raw carrots, apples, baked kale chips, or whole grain crackers; if you are craving a candy bar, upgrade to a handful of nuts, dried fruit, or even a square of dark chocolate; instead of a cup of coffee, upgrade to green tea; instead of a milkshake, upgrade to filling whole-milk plain yogurt with a drizzle of honey. Upgraded snacks are high in nutrition and give you a greater sense of satiety and satisfaction; you won’t feel physically or psychologically deprived, and you’ll have plenty of energy to sustain your activities for hours.
Snacking is enjoyable and there is a wide variety of healthful goodies for whatever you’re craving, be it sweet, crunchy, salty, creamy or spicy. Dive in, be creative and enjoy your snack attack.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011 at 9:14AM |