Snacking has become a habit in many people’s lives. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as you snack on the right foods. In fact, snacking can be a good part of your healthy eating for weight loss programme. So what are the right snacks?
First let’s look at why people snack. It can be when you’re having a social drink and a plate of salted peanuts comes as a complimentary snack. It can be because you are bored. Maybe because you have recently given up smoking. Some people snack while watching TV. Possibly, you snack because you missed a meal and feel hungry.
All of the above are good reasons to snack. So don’t beat yourself up. Now let’s look at what you most definitely should not snack on while you are trying to pursue a healthy eating regime, whether for weight loss or not:
- packets of crisps
- hot chips
- chocolate bars
- candy
- lollies or sweets of any sort
- biscuits – sweet or dry
- cookies
- cakes
- sandwiches, rolls or burgers
- pastries
- sausage rolls
- fried snacks
The foods that are OK in moderation are:
- raw nuts
- dried fruit, preferably without suphur dioxide
There are some foods that you can snack on to your heart’s content. It may need a little preparation beforehand, but if you know your habits this should not be a problem for you. You can even prepare them the night before, if you have a habit of rising late.
Some suggestions include:
- fresh fruit
- carrot or celery sticks
- homemade fresh soup, either hot or cold
- leftovers from last night’s dinner as long as it was a healthy meal, preferably homemade
Some people snack because they can’t tell the difference between being a little thirsty and a little hungry. So always start out with a drink. This can be water or a freshly squeezed healthy fruit or vegetable juice or a fruit or green smoothie.
Avoid soft drinks completely.
Avoid any drink which has a sweetener in – either sugar or an artificial one.
Limit your coffee to brewed non-decaffeinated coffee and just one or two a day. Eight a day is not healthy.
With a healthy regime of snacking in place, you may find that this is enough to effortlessly start to lose weight. Changing simple things that you can manage can become permanent. And that is what we’re aiming for. Permanent changes, to get you out of your old habits that have not been serving you.
Healthy eating for weight loss (or improved fitness or stamina or weight gain where necessary) provides you with more information about making healthy changes easily, at your own pace, in line which what your body type needs.
